Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 15, has already showcased his class in white-ball cricket, scoring 193 runs in six T20Is at a strike rate of 189.21. The Rajasthan Royals opener also won the Orange Cap after amassing 776 runs in IPL 2026. Now, he faces his first major red-ball challenge when East Zone take on North East Zone in the Duleep Trophy last eight in Bengaluru today.

Sooryavanshi, who has played only eight first-class matches, recently underwent specialised red-ball training with his coach, Manish Ojha, at the Rajasthan Royals Academy in Talegaon, near Nagpur. “I was with Vaibhav for five days and we practised in a proper multi-day match red-ball field. He faced bowlers with specific targets. He has done his preparation; now let’s see,” Ojha told mid-day.