The cricketing world raised eyebrows when 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi was named East Zone's vice-captain for the 2026 Duleep Trophy, especially with seasoned campaigner Abhimanyu Easwaran in the squad.

But selection committee member Manish Vardhan insists the move isn't about the present; it's about the future. Speaking to Cricinfo, he explained that the teenager, fresh off a Player of the Series performance against Zimbabwe and his T20I debut against England, is being given leadership exposure as part of a deliberate developmental process.

"We want him to observe the captain closely, understand team dynamics, and stay more involved," Vardhan said. As for Easwaran, the report clarified that making him deputy to a less experienced Ishan Kishan didn't sit right with the selectors. Sooryavanshi, they believe, has the maturity to handle the role without pressure.

The Duleep Trophy kicks off on August 23 in Bengaluru, with East Zone facing North East in a playoff, and all eyes will be on the teenage prodigy wearing the vice-captain's armband.