Vaibhav Suryavanshi‘s rapid rise in Indian cricket reached another milestone after he was named vice-captain of the East Zone squad for the 2026 Duleep Trophy. The 15-year-old batting prodigy will serve as deputy to India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan in one of the country’s most prestigious domestic red-ball tournaments. While the appointment was hailed by many as a bold step towards nurturing future leaders, it has also sparked debate among former cricketers. Ex-India wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta has now questioned the timing of the decision, arguing that Suryavanshi should first cement his place in first-class cricket before being handed such an important leadership responsibility.

Deep Dasgupta criticises East Zone’s decision to pick Vaibhav Suryavanshi as vice-captain

The announcement of Suryavanshi as vice-captain surprised several followers of domestic cricket, considering the teenager is still in the early stages of his first-class career. Although East Zone selectors defended the move by highlighting his maturity and long-term leadership potential, Dasgupta believes experience should have been given greater importance.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, the former India cricketer said he was unconvinced by the decision and felt there were more deserving senior players within the squad.

“I don’t agree with this decision. There are players in this team, like Anukul, who have been playing for several years. They could have been given that leadership role. I do agree that, despite being just 15 or 16 years old, he is extremely mature. There’s no doubt about that. But I don’t think there was any need to make this move at this stage, especially in red-ball cricket,” Dasgupta said.

He further questioned whether Suryavanshi had played enough first-class cricket to justify being entrusted with a leadership position.

“It is beyond me, absolutely beyond me, that you make someone who has only recently started playing red-ball cricket, and is still very young, the vice-captain of an East Zone team. He hasn’t even established himself in red-ball cricket yet. He doesn’t have enough numbers at that level, and he hasn’t played many matches either. So, just let him play first. Let him establish himself,” he added.

Suryavanshi has featured in eight first-class matches so far, scoring 207 runs at an average of 17.25, with one half-century to his name. While those numbers reflect that he is still finding his feet in the longer format, the selectors have chosen to back his leadership qualities alongside his immense potential.

Also READ: Here’s why East Zone appointed Vaibhav Suryavanshi as vice-captain for Duleep Trophy 2026

Teenage star set for another major test in domestic cricket

Despite the criticism, expectations remain sky-high for Suryavanshi as he prepares for the Duleep Trophy. The youngster has enjoyed a remarkable rise over the past year, earning widespread praise for his fearless batting and impressive performances across different levels of the game.

The Duleep Trophy offers another valuable opportunity to showcase his ability against some of the finest domestic cricketers in the country. A productive tournament could not only strengthen East Zone’s title ambitions but also boost his chances of moving closer to national selection in the red-ball format.

Also READ: Vaibhav Suryavanshi reveals the toughest bowler to face in a four-word response