Ishan Kishan (right) will lead East Zone in Duleep Trophy while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (left) will be his deputy. File photo: BCCI
Duleep Trophy: Sooryavanshi named East Zone vice-captain; Harsha Bhogle questions move
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s elevation has come as a surprise to many
After his exploits in white-ball cricket, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been given a big break in red-ball format with the 15-year-old being named as the vice-captain of East Zone for Duleep Trophy 2026.
East Zone will be captained by India and Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan. They face North Zone in the tournament opener in Bengaluru from August 23 to 26.
Also read: Sooryavanshi will break all records: VVS Laxman
Sooryavanshi’s elevation has come as a surprise to many including cricket broadcaster and renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle.
Sooryavanshi's poor red-ball record
The left-handed batter had an outstanding IPL 2026 season with Rajasthan Royals (RR) and that earned him a place in the Indian T20I squad. After failing in England series, he won the Player of the series award in the recently-concluded rubber against Zimbabwe.
Sooryavanshi made 151 runs in three innings including two fifties at an average of 50.33 in Zimbabwe as India swept the series 3-0.
He has grown rapidly in the white-ball format, especially T20s. However, Sooryavanshi has failed to replicate the same success in the longer format. In eight first-class matches so far, he averages just 17.25 with a total of 207 runs in 12 innings.
These poor returns have raised questions over him being made the East Zone vice-captain.
What Bhogle said
Bhogle questioned the move and said the youngster “is at the bottom of it in red ball cricket”. However, he praised him as “extraordinary talent”.
“I wonder what the thinking is behind making Sooryavanshi vice-captain of a senior red ball team. He has played 12 innings for 207 runs @ 17.25. His talent is extraordinary but there is a learning curve and he is at the bottom of it in red ball cricket. (sic),” Bhogle wrote on his X (Formerly Twitter) account.
The majority of the cricket fans on X agreed with Bhogle. “These days most decisions are being taken based on social media hype. Which in itself is a hollow parameter for any decision let alone captaincy for a zone,” an user on X commented to Bhogle’s post.
“There's no need to give leadership to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Undoubtedly wrong decision from Management,” another user said.
Some questioned how Sooryavanshi was named the vice-captain of a team that also has veterans like Mohammed Shami and Abhimanyu Easwaran.
East Zone Squad for Duleep Trophy 2026
Ishan Kishan (Captain, JSCA), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Vice-captain, BCA), Abhimanyu Easwaran (CAB), Sudip Kumar Gharami (CAB), Shahbaz Ahmed (CAB), Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal (CAB), Mohammed Shami (CAB), Mukesh Kumar (CAB), Kumar Kushagra (JSCA), Shikhar Mohan (JSCA), Anukul Roy (JSCA), Virat Singh (JSCA), Subhranshu Senapati (OCA), Denish Das (ACA) and Abhijit Sarkar (TCA).
Standbys: Ayush Loharuka (BCA), Sridam Paul (TCA), Sambit S Baral (OCA), Sharandeep Singh (JSCA) and Swastik Samal (OCA).