The decision is certainly debatable, says Wasim Jaffer on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's East Zone vice-captain appointment

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been appointed vice-captain of the East Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy 2026, which begins August 23 in Bengaluru. The 15-year-old was selected for the role by the zonal selectors, with Ishan Kishan named as captain of the side. The appointment was confirmed on Wednesday by the selection committee.

Wasim Jaffer, the former India cricketer, has shared his perspective on the decision. Jaffer stated that while the appointment carries merit, the selection committee's reasoning warrants scrutiny. He acknowledged that Sooryavanshi's first-class record shows promise but remains limited in scope.

"I think maybe the selectors wanted to reward Vaibhav. If you look at his first-class cricket record and his Ranji Trophy performances, the numbers aren't particularly impressive yet. So, from that point of view, the decision is certainly debatable," Jaffer said in a video on his YouTube channel.

Sooryavanshi has featured in eight first-class matches, accumulating 207 runs across 12 innings at an average of 17.25, with a best score of 93. His most recent first-class outing came during a Plate League Ranji fixture for Bihar against Meghalaya. He has already served as Bihar's vice-captain in first-class cricket, demonstrating prior leadership experience.

Jaffer acknowledged the positive aspects of the appointment for Sooryavanshi's development. The role provides an opportunity for the young player to gain exposure to leadership responsibilities without the full burden of captaincy. The selection committee's intention was framed as a developmental step rather than a reflection of the squad's leadership hierarchy.

However, Jaffer raised concerns about overlooking Abhimanyu Easwaran for the vice-captain's position. Easwaran has played 113 first-class games and is the highest run-scorer in the East Zone squad. He has previously captained Bengal and India A, bringing substantial experience to the table.

"From Vaibhav's perspective, it's an encouraging sign. For him, it's definitely rewarding. But again, Abhimanyu Easwaran is also part of that team. So, in my opinion, making Abhimanyu Easwaran the vice-captain would have been the fair decision," Jaffer said.

Jaffer tempered his criticism by noting that the appointment does not constitute a major controversy. Since Ishan Kishan will ultimately lead the team as captain, the vice-captain's role carries limited direct influence on match outcomes. Nevertheless, Jaffer maintained that Easwaran's experience and track record made him the more suitable choice.

"Having said that, I wouldn't say it's such a huge controversy that we need to make a big issue out of it because, ultimately, Ishan Kishan will be the captain and he'll be leading the team. But yes, when someone like Abhimanyu Easwaran is in the squad, has played so much cricket, and has already captained Bengal, I think it would have been fair to make him the vice-captain," Jaffer stated.