Sooryavanshi gets back to work

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has wasted no time preparing for the new domestic season, posting a video from the nets ahead of the Duleep Trophy. The teenage India batter was seen working on both defensive techniques and attacking strokes before captioning the Instagram post “Preparation”.

Vice-captaincy adds to rising responsibilities

Sooryavanshi, 15, has been named vice-captain of East Zone for the upcoming Duleep Trophy, with experienced wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan leading the team. East Zone selector Pravanjan Mullick said the appointment is designed to gradually prepare the youngster for greater responsibility, rather than immediately burden him with the demands of captaincy.

“He has not been made the captain. He has only been made the vice-captain. The captain is Ishan Kishan,” Mullick told Cricbuzz. “As he grows, he is maturing day by day. Giving him more responsibility will help him mature even further.”

Sooryavanshi has previously served as Bihar’s vice-captain in first-class cricket and was part of India’s leadership group during the Under-19 World Cup campaign. Mullick said the selectors believe responsibility can support the batter’s long-term development, adding that he could potentially challenge for India’s captaincy in the future.

Zimbabwe success follows difficult England debut

The teenager enters the Duleep Trophy after an impressive tour of Zimbabwe. He scored 151 runs in three innings at an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 196.10, including two half-centuries and an unbeaten 81. His performances earned him the Player of the Series award as India secured their first T20I series victory under captain Shreyas Iyer.

The Zimbabwe campaign represented a strong response to a difficult beginning in international cricket. Sooryavanshi made his India debut on the England tour but did not pass 20 in any of his three innings. Across six T20I appearances, he has now scored 193 runs at an average of 32.16 and a strike rate of 189.21, with two fifties.

East Zone face North Zone in Bengaluru

The Duleep Trophy will give Sooryavanshi a chance to test his batting in the longer format, with national selectors expected to monitor his progress closely. East Zone will open its campaign against North Zone in Bengaluru on August 23.

The squad also includes Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, Shahbaz Ahmed and Abhimanyu Easwaran alongside captain Ishan Kishan and vice-captain Sooryavanshi.