In the Duleep Trophy 2026 final at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, 15-year-old East Zone vice-captain Vaibhav Sooryavanshi showed his leadership skills. On Day 3, with South Zone beginning their reply
to East Zone’s 708, the teenager’s game awareness and conviction produced the first wicket of the innings. Mukesh Kumar bowled a length delivery that drifted down the leg side to opener Ricky Bhui. The opener tried to glance it fine but missed. Wicket-keeper Kumar Kushagra and Sooryavanshi who was positioned nearby, immediately appealed for a caught-behind dismissal. The on-field umpire remained unmoved. While others hesitated, Sooryavanshi urged captain Ishan Kishan to take the review. He trusted the youngster’s call. UltraEdge confirmed a clear spike as the ball passed the bat, and Bhui was given out for just 1 off 18 balls.
The BCCI Domestic post captured the moment perfectly with the caption “Take it. Take it” and the video of Sooryavanshi pushing for the review that proved successful. It was a repeat of his sharp decision-making earlier in the tournament, when as stand-in captain he had correctly reviewed and dismissed a set Aryan Juyal. At only 15, already East Zone vice-captain and a player who has scored aggressively throughout the competition (including 44 in the final and a 92 in the semi-final), Sooryavanshi continues to help his team in all aspects of the match. East Zone posted a massive first-innings total of 708 after Ishan Kishan’s brilliant 270 and Kumar Kushagra’s century and this total has already put them in a commanding position.
🗣️ Take it…take it
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 🤝 Review
The vice-captain urges the captain to take the review, and it turns out to be successful 🙌
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/BhTkGWeeoD#DuleepTrophy | #EZvSZ pic.twitter.com/MmtESDSnMy
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) September 8, 2026
Devdutt Padikkal’s half-century keeps South Zone fighting as he continues Sri Lanka form
While East Zone are in a dominant position after posting 708, Indian left-hand batter Devdutt Padikkal has given South Zone a glimmer of resistance with a composed half-century on Day 3. Batting at Number three, the left-hander reached fifty off 65 balls and put on a partnership alongside Shaik Rasheed as South Zone moved past 100 for 2, still trailing by over 600 runs. Padikkal’s innings carries the same positive intent and control that made him Player of the Series on India’s recent Test tour of Sri Lanka. In that series he scored 328 runs across three innings at an average of 109.33, including centuries of 167 in Galle and 117 in Colombo.
He had slotted into the No. 3 role in the absence of the injured Sai Sudharsan and looked completely at ease against both pace and spin. That form has carried into the Duleep Trophy final. After the early loss of Ricky Bhui and later Narayan Jagadeesan for 32, Padikkal refused to go into a shell and batted positively. South Zone still face an enormous task as they must bat long to avoid the follow-on and the left-hander will be keen to convert this into a big century.
