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A new controversy has arisen in Indian cricket ahead of the Dalip Trophy 2026 tournament. Questions are being raised regarding the decision to appoint 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi as the deputy captain of the Eastern Region team. Former Gujarat captain Priyank Panchal called the selectors' decision hasty, noting that placing leadership responsibility on such a young player could create unnecessary pressure.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been appointed as the deputy captain of the Eastern Region for the Dalip Trophy, where Ishan Kishan will lead the team. Notably, this young batter from Bihar has played only eight first-class matches despite being given the role of deputy captain, while the team also features experienced players such as Abhimanyu Ishwar, who has 113 first-class matches under his belt.

His status was elevated following a recent visit to Zimbabwe, where Vaibhav Suryavanshi demonstrated outstanding play. He scored 151 runs in three T20 International matches and was named the Player of the Series. His explosive innings of 81 runs in the third and decisive match was a key factor in India's victory.

What did Priyank Panchal say?

Former Gujarat captain Priyank Panchal wrote on social media platform X that, in his opinion, the zonal selectors should have refrained from appointing Vaibhav Suryavanshi as the deputy captain of the Eastern Region. He suggested that this could put excessive pressure on the young athlete and advised allowing him to fully master the nuances of red-ball cricket before entrusting him with such responsibilities.

Following Panchal's comment, discussions on social media intensified. Many former cricketers and fans believe that Vaibhav should first be given time to establish himself in domestic red-ball matches before taking on a leadership role.

How did the selectors defend the decision?

Meanwhile, the Eastern Region Selection Committee firmly defended its decision. Former cricketer Manish Vardhan, representing Jharkhand, told Cricinfo that this decision was not made solely considering the current tournament. He emphasized that they are looking beyond the present. The deputy captain gets the opportunity to work closely with the captain and study team management. They wanted Vaibhav to become more involved in the team's operations, as this would aid his development. He is considered an extremely talented player who is constantly maturing, and they believe this responsibility is part of his development process.

When will the Dalip Trophy begin?

The 33rd Dalip Trophy tournament will take place from August 23rd at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bangalore. In the initial stage, the Eastern Region team will face the North-Eastern Region, while the Western Region will play against the Northern Region. The winners of these two matches will proceed to the semi-finals against the Southern and Central Regions, respectively, on August 30th. The tournament final is scheduled for September 5th.

Sardar Azmoun has become a desired target for Esteghlal's head coach, Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh, as the team continues its search for a high-class forward before the start of the new season.

Sardar Azmoun considered as a potential transfer to Esteghlal

Esteghlal is facing one of the most serious problems before the start of the campaign, as the club's transfer window remains closed. Contrary to expectations, the Tehran giants have not yet received permission to register new players, which casts doubt on plans to strengthen the squad.

The team has been unable to complete all of Bakhtiarizadeh's desired acquisitions and also cannot officially register any new footballers due to the closed transfer window. In recent seasons, the 'Blues' have struggled due to the lack of a reliable and quality striker, and foreign attacking options have also failed to fully solve this problem. Consequently, strengthening the attack has become a key objective for the club.

According to reports, even before the ban on transfers was confirmed to continue, Bakhtiarizadeh asked the Esteghlal management to begin negotiations to sign Sardar Azmoun. It is also claimed that the head coach personally contacted the Iranian national team forward to express the club's interest in his move to Tehran.

At the moment, Azmoun's arrival remains an ambitious and exciting scenario rather than a realistic transfer, but his name continues to symbolize the type of attacking reinforcement that Esteghlal hopes to achieve.