Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has been appointed vice-captain of the East Zone for the Duleep Trophy 2026, has a poor first-class record so far. This decision has raised questions about the selectors’ decision.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made vice captain: Risinag star of Indian cricket Vaibhav Suryavanshi is once again in the headlines. The 15-year-old batsman, who recently made his international debut for Team India, has now been named vice-captain of the East Zone team for the 2026 Duleep Trophy. Wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan will captain East Zone, while Vaibhav’s appointment as such a young man has sparked widespread discussion.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his international debut against England, where he didn’t perform well. However, he later showcased his talent with a brilliant batting performance during the Zimbabwe tour. However, his first-class cricket statistics remain mediocre. Therefore, his decision to become vice-captain has raised many questions.
Ishan Kishan becomes captain, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi becomes vice-captain
Teams from six zones will participate in the Duleep Trophy 2026, which begins next month. The first match of the tournament will be played on August 23rd. Ishan Kishan has been named captain of the East Zone team, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been named vice-captain. Notably, the team also includes experienced players like Abhimanyu Easwaran and Mohammed Shami, but Vaibhav has been included in the leadership group. This decision by the selectors is being considered quite surprising.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi named as the Vice Captain of the East Zone squad in Duleep Trophy. pic.twitter.com/V7m3bealAi
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 29, 2026
The bat has not worked in first-class cricket so far.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has played eight first-class matches so far, scoring only 207 runs in 12 innings. His batting average is 17.25, while his strike rate is around 90. He has scored only one half-century in these 12 innings. Such statistics indicate that he has yet to prove himself in red-ball cricket.
Questions raised on such a big responsibility at the age of 15
The appointment of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as vice-captain has sparked debate within the cricketing world. Many believe he is a potential player for the future and possesses leadership qualities. Meanwhile, questions are being raised about whether giving him such a significant responsibility based solely on his recent limited-overs performance and popularity is the right decision. All eyes will now be on Vaibhav’s performance in the Duleep Trophy, where he will have the opportunity to prove himself both with the bat and in leadership roles.
East Zone squad for Duleep Trophy 2026
Ishan Kishan (Captain), Vaibhav Suryavanshi (Vice-Captain), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sudip Kumar Gharami, Shahbaz Ahmed, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, Kumar Kushagra, Shikhar Mohan, Anukul Roy, Virat Singh, Shubhranshu Senapati, Danish Das and Abhijit Sarkar.