Ishan Kishan will captain East Zone in Duleep Trophy 2026-27.
Two additional Test players, Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar, are part of the Ishan Kishan-led team. Since they are currently in rehab and recovering from surgery, Riyan Parag and Akash Deep were not taken into consideration.
While Parag is healing from surgery on his right shoulder following the 2026 Indian Premier League, Deep is recovering from back surgery.
Bengal veteran Abhimanyu Easwaran, who will be looking to make amends after losing his place in the India A setup late last year, is predicted to start the batting with Sooryavanshi. Kishan is likely to keep wickets; however, Kumar Kushagra, a second Jharkhand wicketkeeper, is also in the team.
Sooryavanshi has only played in eight first-class games thus far, scoring 207 runs at an average of 17.25 in 12 innings, with a best of 93. His most recent first-class appearance occurred during Bihar's Ranji match against Meghalaya in the Plate League last year.
This fact was highlighted by ace commentator Harsha Bhogle, who questioned why the 15-year-old was made the vice-captain of the East Zone Duleep Trophy squad, given his lack of experience in red-ball cricket.
He agreed that Sooryavanshi is a very talented cricketer, but remains at the bottom of the learning curve of red-ball cricket, and leadership responsibility might not have been needed right now.
“I wonder what the thinking is behind making Sooryavanshi vice-captain of a senior red-ball team. He has played 12 innings for 207 runs @ 17.25. His talent is extraordinary but there is a learning curve and he is at the bottom of it in red ball cricket,” Bhogle posted on X.