Selector Pravanjan Mullick Unveils the Strategy Behind Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s East Zone Vice-Captaincy for Duleep Trophy 2026

The cricket fraternity was surprised when Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was named vice-captain of the East Zone squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2026. East Zone selector Pravanjan Mullick has now detailed the rationale and thought process behind entrusting the 15-year-old with this responsibility.

Mullick clarified that the vice-captaincy does not position Sooryavanshi as a direct leader, as Ishan Kishan will remain the primary captain in charge of the side. Nonetheless, assuming the role of vice-captain will provide him with invaluable leadership experience and foster greater maturity as he develops into a professional cricketer.

“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.

“This is a great opportunity for him to take on the responsibility of 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.

Mullick further noted that the cricketer from Samastipur has been in exceptional form, highlighted by claiming the Orange Cap for the Rajasthan Royals in the latest Indian Premier League season followed swiftly by an international debut approximately one month later.

“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,” he said.

According to Mullick, a strong performance in the Duleep Trophy could pave the way for Sooryavanshi’s inclusion in the Test team. As national selectors will be closely monitoring Sooryavanshi and all participants in the premier red-ball competition, accumulating runs in the multi-day format will demonstrate the young player’s ability to endure and perform at the highest international level.

“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 added.

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