Table of Contents
The Duleep Trophy team for the East Zone have been announced on Wednesday. Ishan Kishan and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi have been handed the leadership roles for the upcoming domestic tournament. Ishan Kishan will be leading the side for the East Zone, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, has been handed over as Ishan’s deputy with the vice-captain role.
The Duleep Trophy is a domestic first-class cricket tournament, with teams from different zones playing against each other in a multi-day game. It begins on August 23, 2026, and runs until September 10, 2026, kicking off the Indian domestic cricket season.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi handed new role
The vice-captaincy role for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will be a crucial one for the 15-year-old boy wonder who has been showcasing his talent across the world. It is the first time that he will be in a leadership role for any domestic tournament in India; this will help grow his leadership skills under Ishan Kishan, who has also been guiding the teenage sensation in the India National Cricket Team.
The Southpaw is the only player from Bihar to represent in the Duleep Trophy. He has been called upon for his excellent form in the U-19 circuit, the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, and also for the Men in Blue side. The 15-year-old was selected vice-captain at the U19 ODI World Cup earlier this year and led the squad in the junior series against South Africa.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's recent form
Recently, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi won the Player of the Series in the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. He scored two fifties in the series and showcased his dominance in international cricket.
He scored 50 runs off 19 balls in the first game, 20 off 9 in the second, and in the third scored 81 off 49 balls, featuring eight fours and four sixes.
Ishan Kishan to lead East Zone
Ishan Kishan previously led Jharkhand to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title. He scored a hundred in the final. After that, he has been in sensational form for the Men in Blue and is also the No.1 T20I batter.
Kishan will be looking to lead the East Zone side to glory for the first time in the 2012-13 season. They defended their title by beating Central Zone in the final for the second consecutive year.
Most players selected from Bengal
From Jharkhand, five players have been selected; it is the second-highest number of players from the state, with Kumar Kushagra, Shikhar Mohan, Anukul Roy, and Virat Singh.
The most players are from Bengal, with six players being selected: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sudip Kumar Gharami, Shahbaz Ahmed, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar. It will be a good test for Mohammed Shami as he will look to continue his good form in the tournament to make a comeback into the India side.
East Zone squad - Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sudip Kumar Gharami, Shahbaz Ahmed, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, Ishan Kishan (c), Kumar Kushagra, Shikhar Mohan, Anukul Roy, Virat Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Subhranshu Senapati, Denish Das, Abhijit Sarkar
