The BCCI appears to be giving the 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi serious consideration as an all-format player. He will serve as the East Zone team’s deputy captain at the 2026 Duleep Trophy. Ishan Kishan, the captain of Jharkhand and a standout wicketkeeper-batter, has been selected as the primary wrecker.
The selection committee met with Sourav Ganguly, head of the Cricket Association of Bengal, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
A number of players who could pose a threat to the opposition in the prestigious competition, which also signifies the start of India’s 2026–2027 domestic season, have been included by the East Zone selection committee. A Bengal-heavy pace attack, led by Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, and Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, is another feature of the East Zone team.
The fact that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has only added 207 runs at an average of 17.25 in eight games so far in his first-class career is even more shocking. This suggests that the selection committee believes the opening batsman has promise beyond his batting stats and wants him to experience leadership before making his senior Indian team debut across formats.
For Bihar cricket, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s appointment as vice captain of the East Zone side at such a young age is a source of great pride. The Deccan Herald quoted Harsh Vardhan, president of the Bihar Cricket Association, as stating, “He has earned the trust of the selectors through his outstanding performances and mature approach to the game.”
The batting unit includes the seasoned campaigner Abhimanyu Easwaran in addition to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Kishan.
Sudip Kumar Gharami of Bengal is also anticipated to bat in the middle order. Anukul Roy and Shahbaz Ahmed are two of the spin-bowling all-rounders, and Kumar Kushagra is anticipated to be Ishan’s backup wicketkeeper.
The whole East Zone team for the 2026 Duleep Trophy:
Ishan Kishan (captain & wicketkeeper), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (vc), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sudip Kumar Gharami, Shahbaz Ahmed, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, Kumar Kushagra (wicketkeeper), Shikjar Mohan, Anukul Roy, Virat Singh, Subhransu Senapati, Denish Das, Abhijit Sarkar
