East Zone‘s decision to appoint 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi as vice-captain for the 2026 Duleep Trophy has become one of the biggest talking points ahead of the new domestic season. The zonal side recently announced its squad with India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan named captain, while Suryavanshi was entrusted with the deputy’s role despite his young age.
The move surprised many fans and former cricketers, who questioned whether such a significant leadership responsibility had come too early. However, East Zone selector Pravanjan Mullick has now explained the thinking behind the decision.
Selector reveals why Vaibhav Suryavanshi was chosen as vice-captain of East Zone for Duleep Trophy 2026
Mullick clarified that the leadership role should not be viewed as an excessive burden on the teenage cricketer, pointing out that Kishan remains the team’s captain and will be actively involved throughout every session as the wicketkeeper.
“He has not been made the captain. He has only been made the vice-captain. The captain is Ishan Kishan. Besides, Ishan is a wicketkeeper, so he will be actively involved throughout the day. It is not as though Vaibhav will be captaining the team all day. As he grows, he is maturing day by day. Giving him more responsibility will help him mature even further,” Mullick told Cricbuzz.
The selector explained that the East Zone management wanted to invest in young leaders rather than wait until players become senior professionals. According to him, assigning responsibility at an early stage can accelerate a player’s growth both on and off the field.
“This is a great opportunity for him to take on the responsibility of being vice-captain in the Duleep Trophy. He wants to do well for the country, and we believe giving young players responsibility is important. Who knows? We are keeping our fingers crossed that one day he could even become India’s captain. That is the thought behind giving him the vice-captaincy,” Mullick added.
High expectations from teenage star in premier domestic event
Apart from the leadership role, the selectors also expect Suryavanshi to make a significant impact with the bat in one of India’s most prestigious first-class tournaments. Mullick pointed out that the youngster has already built an impressive reputation through his performances for the country and during a standout IPL campaign with Rajasthan Royals. He also noted that Suryavanshi already serves as Bihar’s vice-captain in first-class cricket, making the latest appointment a natural progression.
“He has been doing very well for the country and also had an excellent IPL season with Rajasthan Royals. He is also the vice-captain of Bihar in first-class cricket. More importantly, this is a great opportunity for him to score runs. If he performs well in the Duleep Trophy, the national selectors will certainly be watching him. You never know, he could be in contention for the Indian Test team sooner rather than later,” Mullick explained.
The Duleep Trophy has traditionally served as a platform for India’s finest domestic performers to stake their claim for higher honours. With national selectors closely monitoring every performance, Suryavanshi will have a golden opportunity to justify the faith shown in him. If he combines strong batting displays with his new leadership responsibilities, the teenage sensation could take another significant step towards fulfilling the enormous expectations surrounding his career and potentially move closer to a future place in India’s Test setup.
