Vaibhav Sooryavanshi tipped for major role in BCCI’s make-or-break red-ball mission
India's cricket board is rebuilding its Test team. A new plan focuses on young players for the future. A four-day competition will feature 64 players under 25.
This aims to create a strong pipeline of red-ball cricketers. Coaches and selectors will prioritize Test development. Emerging and India A teams will tour Sri Lanka for four-day games.
India’s T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year has done little to mask a growing problem in the longest format. The side’s Test performances have dipped noticeably, and despite improved results in limited-overs cricket under head coach Gautam Gambhir, the red-ball setup remains a concern. Losses at home to New Zealand and South Africa have underlined that India are no longer invincible in their own conditions, with their World Test Championship final hopes now looking increasingly unlikely.
Recognising the issue, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has moved to reset its long-term Test structure. According to PTI, the Centre of Excellence, headed by VVS Laxman, has rolled out a detailed plan to rebuild India’s red-ball depth by focusing on the next generation. Central to this strategy is a four-day intra-CoE competition scheduled across June and July.
Talents such as Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi are set to feature in the tournament, which will include 64 players aged below 25. These players will be split into four teams of 16, with each side playing two multi-day fixtures on varied surfaces to simulate different match scenarios. The idea is to build a consistent pipeline of red-ball players who can serve India over the next decade.