Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Sachin Tendulkar (Source: AFP)
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was appointed as vice-captain of the East Zone cricket team just a couple of months ago for the 2026 Duleep Trophy. The 15-year-old even served as captain of the side when regular skipper Ishan Kishan was benched owing to an injury.
While Sooryavanshi continues to climb up the cricketing ladder at such a young age, former Indian cricketer and fellow teenage prodigy Sachin Tendulkar is of the opinion that the management should take “one step at a time” with the youngster’s progress.
Sachin Tendulkar makes a bold claim about ‘captain’ Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
While interacting with fans on Reddit, former Indian cricketer and all-time great Sachin Tendulkar was asked about his opinion on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi being handed captaincy responsibility at the age of just 15.
The great man responded that the decision of naming Sooryavanshi as the vice-captain of a team came a bit too early for the youngster, and the nation’s cricketing decision makers should let him play more red-ball cricket instead.
The legendary batter said, “I feel its too early for him to become a vice-captain in the Duleep Trophy. We have to let him play more matches with the red ball and take one step at a time!”
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was named East Zone’s vice-captain and Ishan Kishan’s deputy for the 2026 Duleep Trophy season.
Having played only a handful of first-class matches before the tournament, the 15-year-old accepted the responsibility, and even took over as captain when Ishan was ruled out owing to an injury concern against the Central Zone.
Is Sachin Tendulkar correct in his Sooryavanshi assessment?
Being an early starter himself, Sachin Tendulkar might well be the best person in the country to understand the pressures and expectations that come with being thrust into the spotlight at such a young age.
While Tendulkar himself was handed captaincy responsibility on a national level, the ‘Master Blaster’ had already established himself as a global batting phenomenon by then.
His advice of urging Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to play more red ball cricket will not only help the youngster develop his game further, but will also bring him closer to landing a potential Team India debut in Tests.
The belligerent left-handed opening batter has already proven his credentials in T20 and 50-overs cricket, if his IPL and U19 World Cup exploits are anything to go by.
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