Vaibhav Sooryavanshi named East Zone vice-captain for Duleep Trophy
Sooryavanshi named East Zone deputy for Duleep Trophy. He rose 230 places in T20I rankings after Zimbabwe series.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will serve as vice-captain of East Zone in the 2026-27 Duleep Trophy. Ishan Kishan leads the squad, which also includes Mohammed Shami on his return to domestic cricket. The tournament begins on 23 August with all matches at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Sooryavanshi is the only player from Bihar in the side. The 15-year-old gained 230 places in the ICC T20I batting rankings after scoring twin fifties against Zimbabwe. He finished the series with 151 runs at an average of 50.33 and was named Player of the Series. Parag and Akash Deep were not considered after recent surgery.
CricHubb Take
The vice-captaincy puts Sooryavanshi in a dressing room with Shami and Kishan at 15 — the same season he moved 230 spots in the T20I rankings. That combination of first-class leadership and international exposure is rare before 16, and it will shape what East Zone expect from him when the red ball starts.