Bengaluru: Ex-cricketer questions Vaibhav Sooryava...

By Rohan Gupta — 7 August 2026 — 3 min read

Concerns over Duleep Trophy appointment

The decision to appoint Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as East Zone vice-captain for the upcoming Duleep Trophy has drawn criticism from former cricketers and fans. Priyank Panchal, a former Gujarat captain and domestic cricket figure, voiced his concerns regarding the elevation of the 15-year-old.

Sooryavanshi is set to serve as deputy to Ishan Kishan in the zonal tournament. However, Panchal believes that the selectors could have avoided placing such a significant leadership role on the young player at this stage of his career.

Panchal expressed his views on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “I think the zonal selectors could have avoided making Vaibhav Sooryavanshi the East Zone vice captain. It could put unnecessary pressure on the young kid. Let him understand the dynamics of red ball cricket first, properly, before entrusting such duties upon him. Thoughts? #DuleepTrophy.”

The appointment has sparked considerable debate, with many suggesting that Sooryavanshi should be given more time to develop his skills before taking on leadership responsibilities in one of India‘s premier domestic red-ball tournaments.

Experience disparity and selector’s defence

Sooryavanshi’s elevation to vice-captaincy comes despite having played only eight first-class matches for Bihar. This decision has been highlighted in contrast to other more experienced players, such as Abhimanyu Easwaran, who has participated in 113 first-class games.

The young left-handed batter’s appointment followed an impressive performance in Zimbabwe, where he was named Player of the Series. During this outing, he scored 151 runs across three T20Is, including a match-winning knock of 81 in the third and final match of the series.

Despite the criticism, East Zone selectors have defended their choice, indicating that it aligns with a long-term strategy for Sooryavanshi’s development. Manish Vardhan, a former cricketer and Jharkhand‘s representative on the East Zone selection committee, explained the rationale.

Vardhan told Cricinfo, “We are not thinking about the present alone. A vice-captain gets to observe the captain closely and understand how a team is run. We wanted Vaibhav to be more involved with the group because we think it will help him as he develops. He’s an extremely talented cricketer and is maturing steadily. Giving him this responsibility is another part of that process.”

This perspective suggests that the selectors view the vice-captaincy as a developmental tool, allowing Sooryavanshi to gain insight into team management and leadership dynamics from a close vantage point.

Tournament schedule and format

The 63rd edition of the Duleep Trophy is scheduled to commence on August 23. All matches for the tournament will be held at the BCCI‘s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

The opening round of the tournament will feature East Zone facing North-East Zone, while West Zone will compete against North Zone. These initial matches will set the stage for the subsequent phases of the competition.

The winners of these two matches will advance to the semi-finals, which are slated for August 30. In the semi-finals, these winners will respectively meet South Zone and Central Zone. The final match of the tournament is scheduled to take place on September 5.

The structure of the tournament ensures that teams progress through a series of challenging encounters, culminating in the final to determine the champion of the Duleep Trophy.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com