Pravanjan Mullick, a member of the East Zone selection committee, has explained the reasoning behind the controversial appointment of 16-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as the vice-captain for the upcoming Duleep Trophy. The decision has drawn criticism, with many questioning the wisdom of assigning such a significant responsibility to a young player.
Mullick clarified that Sooryavanshi is not the captain, with Ishan Kishan holding that role. He highlighted that Kishan, being a wicketkeeper, will be actively involved throughout the match, meaning Sooryavanshi will not be solely responsible for captaincy duties all day. "As he grows, he is maturing day by day. Giving him more responsibility will help him mature even further," Mullick stated, emphasizing the developmental aspect of the appointment.
Besides, Ishan is a wicketkeeper, so he will be actively involved throughout the day.
He further elaborated that this role in the Duleep Trophy presents a valuable opportunity for Sooryavanshi's growth. "We believe giving young players responsibility is important. Who knows? We are keeping our fingers crossed that one day he could even become India's captain. That is the thought behind giving him the vice-captaincy," Mullick added. He also noted Sooryavanshi's existing leadership experience as the vice-captain of the Bihar side and the India Under-19 team that won the World Cup. Sooryavanshi also had a strong IPL season with Rajasthan Royals and has been performing well for the country.
The selection committee meeting, held at Eden Gardens on Wednesday, was convened by CAB secretary Bablu Kolay and attended by selectors from various eastern state associations, including Mullick, who is also the coach of the Odisha side. Mullick confirmed that the decision was collective and made without prior discussion with the player.
Mullick, who played 88 first-class, 56 List A and 11 T20 matches in a domestic career spanning 14 years, said there were no discussions with the player before the appointment was made.
Mullick stressed the potential benefit for Sooryavanshi's batting performance, suggesting that a strong showing in the Duleep Trophy could attract the attention of national selectors, potentially putting him in contention for the Indian Test team. Sooryavanshi has recently gained prominence after a stellar IPL season and being named Player of the Series in India's tour of Zimbabwe, despite a less impactful T20I series in England.
Addressing the media and social media criticism, Mullick stated, "With due respect to everyone expressing their views, they are entitled to their opinions. Everyone has a right to think differently, and we cannot change that. But we did what we believed was best for the team. It was a collective decision."
The Duleep Trophy is scheduled to commence in Bengaluru on August 23, with East Zone set to face North Zone in their opening match.
Only time will tell whether the East Zone selectors were far-sighted visionaries or simply too clever by half.
Sumit Ranjan Das (ACA) joined the meeting virtually.
