Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Sharp Cricket Brain Shines! 15-year-old prepares two big wickets in Duleep Trophy final – Watch

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Video grab) NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi may be just 15 but the teenage sensation is already showing the tactical awareness of a seasoned cricketer. The East Zone vice-captain played a key role in two crucial dismissals as his side tightened the screws on the South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.After East Zone amassed a mammoth 708, largely thanks to skipper Ishan Kishan’s brilliant 270, South Zone seemed to settle into their reply. But Sooryavanshi’s sharp reading of the game helped East Zone strike twice before tea on Day 3.

Sooryavanshi trusts his instinct for the crucial DRS call

The first breakthrough came when Ricky Bhui appeared to survive a surprise appeal against Mukesh Kumar. As Bhui tried to lead her away, a pacemaker switched on one side of her leg, but the on-field umpire remained motionless despite the challenge.However, Sooryavanshi was convinced that there was something behind it. The teenager urged Kishan to take the Decision Review System (DRS) and his instinct proved to be spot on.UltraEdge showed the edge as the ball missed the bat, keeper Kumar Kushagra completed the catch to send Bhui back.BCCI also highlighted Sooryavanshi’s intervention on social media.“Take it…take it. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi urges the captain to do a check and it turns out to be successful,” BCCI wrote, sharing the video of the dismissal on X.It was another example of the youngster’s growing influence in senior cricket. His ability to make a call under pressure was particularly impressive.

The teenage vice-captain brings Shami back at the perfect time

Sooryavanshi’s tactical contribution did not end with the DRS call.With South Zone on 174/4 with just minutes to tea, the youngster stood in as captain temporarily after Kishan walked off the field. He opted to bring Mohammed Shami back for a short burst even though the veteran pacer had already bowled a demanding spell.Shami had earlier departed after bowling seven and bowled just twice after lunch. He also requested neck treatment from a physical therapist.Still, Sooryavanshi recognized an opportunity to use the experienced seamer for a quick spell before the break.The move paid immediate dividends.Shami dismissed Smaran Ravichandran, the top run-scorer in the previous Ranji Trophy season, when the Karnataka batsman chased a delivery outside off and bowled it behind. The on-field umpire didn’t give away again, but this time Kushagra urged Sooryavanshi to review.UltraEdge once again confirmed the edge.Ravichandran was gone, South Zone were reduced to 176/5 and Sooryavanshi played a direct role in East Zone’s two most important wickets.

DRS instinct becomes Sooryavanshi’s trademark

Deciding has not been a one-off for Sooryavanshi in this Duleep Trophy campaign.During the East Zone semi-final against Central Zone in Bengaluru, the youngster made another gutsy DRS call after Aryan Juyal was initially given out without an appeal against Mukesh Kumar.Juyal, batting on 46, pushed the delivery hard outside off and the East Zone players immediately appealed. When the umpire dismissed the appeal, there was some hesitation among the fielders to review it.Trusting his instinct, Sooryavanshi asked for a last-minute review. UltraEdge detected the spike, confirmed the edge and handed East Zone the decisive goal.The youngster also spoke of his willingness to contribute with the ball during the tournament, joking that he considers himself a “keeper”.“Opposition wickets were not falling, so I was asked to bowl two or three overs. Ishan Bhaiya felt he was taking a risk, but he didn’t know I was a wicketkeeper,” Sooryavanshi said in a video released by BCCI Domestic.His batting may have made him one of the most talked about teenage prospects in Indian cricket, but his Duleep Trophy campaign is increasingly showing a different side to his game.