Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batsman AB de Villiers It is believed that teenage star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could become one of the first players of his generation to choose T20 cricket over Test cricket.Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his debut for India in the second T20I against England last week. Speaking on TOI Sports’ Mumbai Sports Exchange podcast, de Villiers said the growing appeal of T20 cricket could influence young players like Sooryavanshi in deciding the direction of their careers.“He (Sooryavanshi) could become one of the first youngsters to simply say, ‘Sorry, I’m not interested in Test cricket’. I am very happy to play T20 cricket. “Also read: AB de Villiers reveals Virat Kohli wants him to delay RCB retirementDe Villiers said T20 cricket could be a more comfortable format for batsmen due to the playing conditions.“(T20) is much easier from a comfort point of view. You face a short period of time, only two fielders during the Powerplay, the wickets are flatter – as a cricketer, it might be easier. We will see what he decides. But whatever he (Sooryavanshi) chooses, there will definitely be challenges and pitfalls along the way.”The former South Africa captain added that the responsibility should not lie with the players if Suryavanshi ultimately decides not to play Test cricket.“You can’t blame him. These decisions are taken at the top. Managers need to find the right balance and make these decisions a little more difficult than they are now. Now, the choice is quite clear (between Tests and T20s),” de Villiers said on TOI Sports’ Mumbai Sports Exchange podcast.Meanwhile, de Villiers said Sooryavanshi’s journey will not be easy.“He’s going to go through difficult times. His character will be tested. Then it’s up to him to prove whether he has the character and the mental strength to get through these phases. He’s likely to encounter a lot of bells and pitfalls,” he said.He also said that Sooryavanshi needs the right guidance while growing up.“At 15 you’re supposed to be relatively immature – and that’s probably what he is. We’ll have to wait and see what happens. I hope he has good leadership, guidance and direction around him. I also hope he’s willing to accept help because it’s going to be a bumpy road. There’s absolutely no doubt about that. Especially if he chooses to play Test cricket – which he probably won’t.”
