Former India opener Wasim Jaffer has shared his views on East Zone’s decision to appoint 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as vice-captain for the 2026-27 Duleep Trophy, suggesting that the role could have gone to the more experienced Abhimanyu Easwaran. While Jaffer welcomed the faith shown in the teenage sensation, he admitted the decision remains open to debate considering Sooryavanshi’s limited first-class record.
East Zone announced their squad on July 29, naming India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan as captain, with Sooryavanshi serving as his deputy. The announcement immediately sparked discussion across the cricket fraternity, especially as seasoned campaigners like Abhimanyu Easwaran and Mohammed Shami were also part of the squad.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Wasim Jaffer Official, the former India batter said the selectors may have wanted to reward Sooryavanshi after his rapid rise in Indian cricket, including his senior international debut last month. However, Jaffer pointed out that the youngster’s red-ball numbers do not yet justify such a significant leadership responsibility.
Sooryavanshi has scored 207 runs in 12 first-class innings at an average of 17.25. While Jaffer acknowledged the Bihar batter’s immense talent and long-term potential, he felt Easwaran’s experience made him a more deserving candidate for the vice-captaincy.
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“I think maybe the selectors wanted to reward Vaibhav. If you look at his first-class cricket record and his Ranji Trophy performances, the numbers aren’t particularly impressive yet. So, from that point of view, the decision is certainly debatable. From Vaibhav’s perspective, it’s an encouraging sign. But with someone like Abhimanyu Easwaran in the squad, I think making him the vice-captain would have been the fair decision,” Wasim Jaffer said.
Easwaran has been one of the most consistent performers in Indian domestic cricket over the last decade. The Bengal opener has amassed 8,381 runs in 113 first-class matches at an outstanding average of 47.61, including 27 centuries and 36 half-centuries. He has also captained Bengal and India A, making him one of the most experienced leaders available in the East Zone setup.
Despite raising questions over the appointment, Jaffer made it clear that he does not view the issue as a major controversy. Since Ishan Kishan will lead the side throughout the tournament, the former opener believes the vice-captaincy is unlikely to have a significant impact on team dynamics.
At the same time, Jaffer believes the added responsibility could accelerate Sooryavanshi’s development as a cricketer. According to him, the teenager possesses the temperament and leadership qualities to captain teams in the future, and the current role could serve as valuable preparation for bigger challenges ahead.
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“I don’t think this deserves a huge uproar. It’s an added responsibility for Vaibhav, and I believe we’ll see him leading teams in the next two or three years. He has that ability, and this responsibility will only motivate him further,” Wasim Jaffer added.
East Zone will kick off their 2026-27 Duleep Trophy campaign against North East Zone in Bengaluru on August 23, with plenty of attention set to be on Sooryavanshi as he takes on his first leadership role at the zonal level.
