Vaibhav Sooryavanshi endured a disappointing start to his Duleep Trophy 2026 campaign, falling for just 8 runs in East Zone's quarterfinal against North East Zone in Bengaluru on August 23. Sooryavanshi was dismissed early after North East Zone captain Rongsen Jonathan won the toss and chose to bowl.
The Duleep Trophy will provide players with an opportunity to push for selection ahead of India's upcoming New Zealand tour and home Test series against Australia. Suryavanshi was named the East Zone team's vice-captain under Ishan Kishan's captaincy in the red-ball tournament, which began on Sunday.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Falls for 8 on Duleep Trophy Debut
North East Zone captain Rongsen Jonathan won the toss and elected to bowl first. His decision paid off quickly as East Zone lost their first wicket with only 12 runs on the board, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi dismissed for 8 in the second over.
Sooryavanshi started his innings positively against Bishwojit Konthoujam, hitting boundaries off his first two deliveries. The 15-year-old batter used well-timed cover drives to find the fence and looked confident despite facing the new ball in his first Duleep Trophy appearance.
However, Sooryavanshi attempted the same shot again off his sixth delivery and edged the ball towards gully, where the fielder completed the catch.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Looks to Strengthen First-Class Record
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has impressed in white-ball cricket, but the Duleep Trophy gives him a chance to improve his red-ball record. Before this match, he had played eight first-class matches for Bihar since debuting against Mumbai in 2024, scoring 207 runs in 12 innings at an average of 17.25, with a best of 93.
Sooryavanshi improved during the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, scoring 107 runs in three matches at an average of 53.50. He registered his only first-class half-century against Meghalaya.
The 15-year-old also spent two weeks at the Rajasthan Royals High Performance Centre after returning from national duty. Under Vikram Rathour, he worked on his technique, fitness, and recovery. Former coach Manish Ojha also helped him improve against spin and play short deliveries from the back foot.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Eyes Test Opener Spot After T20 Success
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is focusing on red-ball cricket after an excellent year in T20 cricket. He finished IPL 2026 as the tournament's leading run-scorer with 776 runs before earning a place in India's T20I squad. He then impressed during the series against Zimbabwe.
The teenager won the Player of the Series award after scoring 151 runs in three matches, including two half-centuries. His performances have strengthened his reputation as a top young batter, but he will now need to build consistency in first-class cricket.
Sooryavanshi is also in the mix for India's reserve Test opener role. His performances in the upcoming Duleep Trophy innings will give the selectors another chance to assess his progress in red-ball cricket. He will need will now need to translate his success in T20 cricket into consistent first-class performances.
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