Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has taken another significant step in his rapidly rising career after being named East Zone’s vice-captain for the 2026-27 Duleep Trophy. The 15-year-old Bihar opener will serve as deputy to India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan in a star-studded squad that also features veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami.
Sooryavanshi’s appointment is one of the biggest talking points from the East Zone squad announcement and highlights the immense faith selectors have placed in the young left-hander. Despite being only 15, he has established himself as one of India’s brightest batting prospects with a series of impressive performances in domestic and international cricket.
Earlier this year, he was also entrusted with the vice-captaincy of Bihar for the opening two rounds of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, underlining his growing leadership credentials. The left-handed opener recently fulfilled another dream by making his senior India debut in the T20I series against England in Manchester.
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He followed it up with a dazzling innings of 81 off just 49 balls against Zimbabwe in Harare, further strengthening his reputation as one of the country’s most exciting young talents. On the same day his East Zone vice-captaincy was announced, Sooryavanshi also climbed an impressive 230 places in the latest ICC T20I batting rankings, capping off another memorable milestone in his career.
For skipper Ishan Kishan, the Duleep Trophy presents another opportunity to continue his resurgence. After returning to India’s setup and playing a role in the team’s successful T20 World Cup campaign earlier this year, Kishan will look to carry that momentum into the domestic season and reinforce his credentials across formats.
East Zone name Duleep Trophy squad: 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi appointed Vice-Captain! 🇮🇳🏏🔥
• Ishan Kishan will lead East Zone for the 2026-27 Duleep Trophy starting August 23 at the BCCI CoE in Bengaluru! 🧢⚡
• In a massive show of faith, 15-year-old sensation… pic.twitter.com/1SR6yDP85B
— Cricket Hub (@Anurag9793) July 29, 2026
Meanwhile, Mohammed Shami’s inclusion adds invaluable experience to the East Zone squad. The seasoned Bengal pacer has not represented India since the Champions Trophy in March and was overlooked for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. A strong performance in the Duleep Trophy could strengthen his case for a return to the national side in the longest format.
Shami will lead a quality pace attack featuring fellow Bengal quicks Mukesh Kumar and Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal. In the batting department, experienced opener Abhimanyu Easwaran will provide stability at the top, while Sooryavanshi is expected to bring his trademark attacking approach.
East Zone have also assembled a balanced squad with several accomplished domestic performers. Jharkhand quartet Kumar Kushagra, Anukul Roy, Virat Singh and Shikhar Mohan have all been included, while Odisha batter Subhranshu Senapati and Assam’s Denish Das further bolster the middle order, making East Zone one of the strongest teams heading into the prestigious domestic tournament.
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East Zone Squad for Duleep Trophy 2026: Abhimanyu Easwaran (CAB), Sudip Kumar Gharami (CAB), Shahbaz Ahmed (CAB), Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal (CAB), Mohammed Shami (CAB), Mukesh Kumar (CAB), Ishan Kishan (C, JSCA), Kumar Kushagra (JSCA), Shikhar Mohan (JSCA), Anukul Roy (JSCA), Virat Singh (JSCA), Subhranshu Senapati (OCA), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (VC, BCA), Denish Das (ACA) and Abhijit Sarkar (TCA).
Standbyes: Ayush Loharuka (BCA), Sridam Paul (TCA), Sambit S Baral (OCA), Sharandeep Singh (JSCA) and Swastik Samal (OCA).
