The decision to name 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as East Zone's vice-captain for the upcoming Duleep Trophy in Bengaluru raised plenty of eyebrows across the cricket community. Set to kick off on August 23, 2026, the tournament has become an unexpected talking point, with several analysts arguing that saddling such a young talent with leadership duties is a mistake. However, East Zone selector and former Odisha cricketer Pravanjan Mullick pushed back against the skepticism, framing the move as a deliberate step in Sooryavanshi's ongoing growth and maturity.
ALSO READ: Massive update on Jasprit Bumrah's injury ahead of India's Test series against Sri Lanka
East Zone selector explains why Sooryavanshi was named vice captain
Defending the strategic choice, Mullick clarified that the primary leadership load remains squarely on the shoulders of captain Ishan Kishan. He emphasized that since Kishan is a wicketkeeper, he will naturally direct the field all day, leaving the teenage prodigy to absorb valuable experience without the heavy burden of full match management. Giving him a taste of responsibility, Mullick noted, is simply designed to accelerate his personal and tactical development as he steps up to higher-level cricket.
"As he grows, he is maturing day by day. Giving him more responsibility will help him mature even further," Mullick told Cricbuzz.
Mullick reinforced his defense by highlighting that leadership isn't new territory for Sooryavanshi. The teenager already holds the vice-captaincy for Bihar in domestic cricket and previously served as Ayush Mhatre’s second-in-command during the 2026 Under-19 World Cup. Pointing to his standout domestic form and an eye-catching IPL campaign with the Rajasthan Royals, Mullick framed the Duleep Trophy appointment as a natural step forward. He explained that empowering promising talent early is a deliberate strategy, floating the ambitious vision that Sooryavanshi could one day captain the national side if his trajectory continues.
ALSO READ: Morkel becomes Super Kings head coach after Stephen Fleming's departure
Interestingly, the selection panel opted not to brief the young batter before announcing his promotion. Mullick revealed that the decision was unanimously agreed upon by all East Zone state selectors, driven by total confidence in his ability to step up whenever needed. Beyond the leadership experience, Mullick emphasised that the tournament serves as a prime showcase for his primary job: scoring runs. A strong showing in the Duleep Trophy would put him firmly on the national selectors' radar, potentially fast-tracking his route into India's Test squad.
East Zone's squad for Duleep Trophy:
Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sudip Gharami, Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Suraj Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan (capt), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (vice-captain), Virat Singh, Kumar Kushagra, Shikhar Mohan, Subranshu Senapati, Abhijit Sarkar, Anukul Roy, Denish Das