Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Becomes Captain At 15 (Img: X)
New Delhi: Indian cricket’s teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi added another remarkable milestone to his rapidly rising career as he became the stand-in captain of East Zone during the Duleep Trophy semi-final against Central Zone on Sunday.
The 15-year-old left-handed opener, who was named East Zone’s vice-captain before the tournament, received the captaincy responsibility after regular skipper Ishan Kishan suffered a freak injury while keeping wickets.
Kishan injured his right wrist after being hit during Central Zone’s innings and had to leave the field for medical attention. With the senior wicketkeeper-batter unavailable, Sooryavanshi took over the leadership duties in the 19th over. The moment marked the first time the young cricketer led a senior men’s side in competitive cricket.
Hailing from Samastipur, Bihar, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been regarded as one of India’s brightest young cricketing talents. His appointment as East Zone vice-captain had created discussions among cricket experts, but selectors backed the decision as part of his long-term development.
Jharkhand selector Manish Vardhan had earlier highlighted that the move was aimed at preparing Sooryavanshi for bigger responsibilities in the future.
The teenager’s elevation to captaincy came in only his second Duleep Trophy appearance, highlighting the trust placed in his abilities despite his young age.
East Zone captain Ishan Kishan won the toss and chose to bowl first against Central Zone. However, his injury forced an unexpected leadership change.
Kishan returned to the field later with his wrist strapped, but wicketkeeping duties were handed over to Kumar Kushagra as medical assessments continued. Following Kishan’s exit, Sooryavanshi stepped up and guided the team from the field against a strong Central Zone side led by Rajat Patidar.
The young batter has already created headlines with his performances. He made his Ranji Trophy debut in 2024 and has featured in nine first-class matches so far.
Sooryavanshi gained nationwide attention after a sensational IPL campaign with Rajasthan Royals, where he scored 776 runs and announced himself as a future star.
He later impressed during India’s series against Zimbabwe, earning Player of the Series honours after scoring more than 200 runs in the three-match contest.
Although his first Duleep Trophy batting outing was modest, scoring eight runs against North East Zone, he contributed with the ball by taking two wickets.
