Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's appointment as East Zone vice-captain for the upcoming Duleep Trophy raised eyebrows given the 15-year-old has played just eight first-class matches. However, members of the East Zone selection committee have clarified that the decision was made with the youngster's long-term development in mind rather than as a reflection of the team's leadership hierarchy.
The teenage batting sensation will serve as deputy to India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, with selectors believing the role will help prepare him for future leadership responsibilities.
'It's part of his development'
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, East Zone selector Manish Vardhan said the vice-captaincy was designed to give Sooryavanshi an opportunity to learn from Kishan rather than indicate he is next
in line to captain the side.
"We are not thinking about the present alone," Vardhan said.
"A vice-captain gets to observe the captain closely and understand how a team is run. We wanted Vaibhav to be more involved with the group because we think it will help him as he develops.
"He's an extremely talented cricketer and is maturing steadily. Giving him this responsibility is another part of that process. "
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi not next in line for captaincy
Despite being named vice-captain, Sooryavanshi would not automatically lead East Zone if Kishan is unavailable.
Vardhan said the selectors had not discussed such a scenario but indicated that an experienced player would likely take over the captaincy while Sooryavanshi continued as vice-captain.
"The vice-captain's role isn't about status," he said.
"It's about what a young player can learn while working alongside the captain. "
Selectors see future India captaincy potential in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Former Odisha cricketer Pravanjan Mullick, who serves as the state's selector-coach, said the role allows Sooryavanshi to gain leadership experience without the pressures of captaining the side.
"Ishan is the captain and, as wicketkeeper, he is involved in every phase of the game," Mullick told ESPNcricinfo.
"This gives Vaibhav an opportunity to understand leadership without putting the responsibility of captaining the side on him. We want him to grow, maybe one day he could even captain India. That's the thought behind giving him the vice-captaincy. "
Mullick also pointed out that Sooryavanshi has previously served as Bihar's vice-captain in first-class cricket.
Why Abhimanyu Easwaran was overlooked
The decision to hand the vice-captaincy to Sooryavanshi over seasoned campaigners such as Abhimanyu Easwaran, Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar surprised many.
According to the report, the selectors deliberately chose not to appoint Easwaran as vice-captain because they felt it would be inappropriate for a player with 113 first-class matches, India A captaincy experience and extensive domestic leadership credentials to serve as deputy to the significantly less experienced Kishan.
Duleep Trophy begins in August
The 63rd edition of the Duleep Trophy gets underway on August 23 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
East Zone will face North-East Zone in the opening play-off, with the winners progressing to the semi-finals against defending finalists South Zone. The tournament final is scheduled for September 5.
