Former Gujarat captain Priyank Panchal has become the latest voice to question the decision to appoint 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as East Zone vice-captain for the upcoming Duleep Trophy, saying the teenager should first be allowed to settle into the demands of red-ball cricket.Sooryavanshi, who will serve as deputy to Ishan Kishan, was handed the leadership role despite having played only eight first-class matches for Bihar. His appointment came ahead of far more experienced players, including Abhimanyu Easwaran, who has featured in 113 first-class games.The decision followed Sooryavanshi’s impressive outing in Zimbabwe, where he was named Player of the Series after scoring 151 runs in three T20Is, including a match-winning 81 in the third and final game.However, Panchal believes the selectors could have waited before entrusting the youngster with additional responsibility.“I think the zonal selectors could have avoided making Vaibhav Sooryavanshi the East Zone vice captain. It could put unnecessary pressure on the young kid. Let him understand the dynamics of red ball cricket first, properly, before entrusting such duties upon him. Thoughts? #DuleepTrophy,” Panchal wrote on X (formerly Twitter).The appointment has sparked debate among fans and former cricketers, with many arguing that the teenager should be given time to develop before taking on a leadership role in one of India’s premier domestic red-ball tournaments.Despite the criticism, East Zone selectors have defended the decision, insisting it is part of a long-term plan for Sooryavanshi’s development.“We are not thinking about the present alone,” Manish Vardhan, former cricketer and Jharkhand’s representative on the East Zone selection committee, told Cricinfo.“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,” he added.The 63rd edition of the Duleep Trophy begins on August 23 at the BCCI‘s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. East Zone will face North-East Zone in the opening round, while West Zone take on North Zone. The winners will meet South Zone and Central Zone respectively in the semi-finals on August 30, with the final scheduled for September 5.
