East Zone names Vaibhav Sooryavanshi vice-captain for Duleep Trophy; 'He could captain India'

East Zone selectors have appointed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as the vice-captain for their Duleep Trophy squad. The assignment is intended to develop his leadership by keeping him alongside captain Ishan Kishan, and selectors said, 'He could captain India'.

The move places Sooryavanshi in a formal leadership role within East Zone's setup for the Duleep Trophy. Rather than elevating an established campaigner, the selectors chose a youngster to shadow the captain and learn on the job. Ishan Kishan will serve as captain with Sooryavanshi as his deputy. Both players are regarded as future prospects for India's cricket setup.

Selectors explained the appointment as primarily developmental, designed to give Sooryavanshi exposure to the responsibilities of leadership through close observation of the captain. The emphasis was on learning through proximity to match-day decision-making, rather than immediate delegation of strategic duties. That intention underpinned the choice to place him in the vice-captain's role for the tournament.

Experienced players such as Abhimanyu Easwaran were not considered for this specific deputy position, according to the selectors. The decision therefore reflects a selection strategy that prioritises creating leadership pathways for emerging talent over rewarding seniority. East Zone's leadership group will centre on Kishan and Sooryavanshi for the Duleep Trophy campaign.

Ishan Kishan's role as captain and Sooryavanshi's appointment as his deputy were communicated as part of the squad announcements for the Duleep Trophy. The pairing signals the selectors' intent to integrate promising players into roles that test aspects of captaincy and team management in a competitive environment. The selectors’ statement that 'He could captain India' encapsulates their belief in Sooryavanshi's long-term potential.

Selectors have framed the vice-captaincy as a step in grooming Sooryavanshi rather than an immediate expectation of leadership by results. With Kishan leading the side, Sooryavanshi will have the opportunity to learn at close quarters while remaining a key young prospect in the region's plans for India.