Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s big red-ball audition ends in six balls as East Zone vice-captain falls for 8 in Duleep Trophy

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was dismissed for just eight runs off six balls in East Zone’s Duleep Trophy 2026 quarter-final against North East Zone at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Opening alongside Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sooryavanshi came on strike in the second over against right-arm medium pacer Bishworjit Konthoujam. He smashed two consecutive boundaries off the third and fourth balls before being dismissed off the final delivery. The match provided Sooryavanshi with a test against experienced first-class cricketers as he transitions from white-ball to red-ball cricket. Earlier, his coach Manish Ojha emphasized the mental adjustment needed, stating that Sooryavanshi must learn to wait for the right deliveries and minimize risk. He will now hope for another opportunity in the second innings to make a stronger impression. Aratrick Mondal, a senior sports journalist, covers emerging sports and cricket extensively, including his recent work on the SA20 league’s fan experience.