Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s elevation to Duleep Trophy vice-captaincy deemed ‘avoidable’: ‘Unnecessary pressure on kid’
Domestic Cricket Veteran Questions Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Vice-Captaincy Appointment
Bharatmorningnews.com – Priyank Panchal has emerged as the newest voice raising eyebrows over the decision to name fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as East Zone's vice-captain for the forthcoming Duleep Trophy competition. The left-handed batsman is set to act as Ishan Kishan's second-in-command within the zonal setup. Yet this particular choice has sparked debate among supporters and analysts alike, with many arguing the teenager deserves space to acclimatize to cricket's escalating requirements.
Recent Performances Fuel the Debate
The appointment arrived shortly after Sooryavanshi earned Player of the Series honors during Zimbabwe's tour. His contributions included scoring 151 runs across three encounters, highlighted by an impressive eighty-one in the concluding T20I fixture.
What makes this selection particularly noteworthy is his limited first-class experience. Having featured in merely eight red-ball matches for Bihar, the youngster was selected ahead of Abhimanyu Easwaran, who boasts an impressive tally of 113 first-class appearances.
Panchal's Concerns About Premature Responsibility
Panchal expressed his view that the vice-captaincy elevation might have been deferred, emphasizing that understanding red-ball cricket's nuances should take priority.
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
Selector Defends the Decision
Conversely, an East Zone selector has justified the choice by pointing toward long-term development. Manish Vardhan, Jharkhand's representative on the selection committee, explained that the decision extends beyond immediate considerations.
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.
Tournament Schedule and Venue Details
The 63rd iteration of the Duleep Trophy commences on August 23. East Zone faces North-East Zone while West Zone takes on North Zone in the opening round. The victors from these encounters progress to semi-finals against South Zone and Central Zone on August 30. The championship concludes with the final on September 5, with all fixtures hosted at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Vishesh Roy is a cricket-focused sports journalist who launched his career at Asian News International. His coverage spanned major events including the India Open, Legends Cricket League, the England–India Test series in Ahmedabad during 2021, and the Narendra Modi Stadium inauguration. His domestic cricket reporting encompassed numerous Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy contests nationwide. Beyond cricket, he has also covered tennis, football, and WWE.
Following more than three years at ANI, Roy transitioned to NDTV, where he developed expertise in digital-first journalism with emphasis on live blogs and real-time reporting. He joined Hindustan Times in October 2024, rapidly building a reputation through exclusive interviews and source-driven narratives. Prior to the IPL 2025 auction, his outlet became the first to announce the two-day event would relocate to Saudi Arabia. During his initial months, he secured conversations with prominent players including Pat Cummins, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Rashid Latif.
Roy has maintained close attention on rising stars like Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Priyansh Arya through discussions with their current and childhood coaches. His on-field reporting background has enabled Hindustan Times Digital to deliver exclusive coverage on significant developments, ranging from Virat Kohli's comeback in the Ranji and Vijay Hazare Trophy to IPL scheduling updates and the T20 World Cup controversy involving Bangladesh and Pakistan.
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