‘Can he survive five days?’: Yograj Singh questions Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s red-ball mettle

Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s record-breaking debut season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has taken Indian cricket by storm. At just 14 years and 23 days, the prodigious left-hander became the youngest player ever to feature in the IPL, making his debut for Rajasthan Royals against the Lucknow Super Giants.

Acquired for ₹1.1 crore (1 crore is 10 million) at the auction, Suryavanshi spent the first half of the season on the sidelines. However, when skipper Sanju Samson was sidelined due to injury, the teenager got his chance — and made it count.

He stunned the cricketing world by smashing a 35-ball century against Gujarat Titans in just his third outing. He concluded the season with a rapid fifty, finishing with 252 runs from 7 innings at a blistering strike rate of 206.55.

Rising star beyond T20

Suryavanshi’s sensational IPL performances drew comparisons with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, with fans and pundits alike hailing his fearless strokeplay and maturity beyond his years. The excitement didn’t stop with the IPL.

In a red-ball practice game at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru on Tuesday, Suryavanshi hammered 190 off just 90 deliveries, further strengthening his case for a spot in India’s Under-19 squad for the upcoming England tour.

‘Can he survive five days?’

While the cricketing fraternity is abuzz with praise, former cricketer Yograj Singh, father of Yuvraj Singh, offered a sobering perspective. Speaking to InsideSport, he said:

“My vision is Test cricket. Can you survive five days? That’s the real test. T20 and 50-over formats are fine, but without red-ball endurance, you’re incomplete.”

Criticism of systemic shortcomings

Yograj didn’t just target players. He criticised cricket administrators and coaches for what he termed a lack of “true passion.”

“Everyone wants to sit in air-conditioned rooms. I’m standing in 48 degrees, dreaming of producing more brilliant cricketers like Yuvraj Singh,” he added.

As Suryavanshi’s stock rises, his biggest challenge may now lie not in front of floodlights, but in surviving the grind of longer formats — the true test of greatness.