Bengaluru, August 31, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Teenaged batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scripted history on Monday by becoming the youngest player to score a half-century in Duleep Trophy history during East Zone’s semifinal against Central Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground in Bengaluru.
At 15 years and 175 days, Sooryavanshi reached his fifty in just 42 deliveries. He went on to score 92 off 81 balls, breaking a 57-year-old record previously held by Laxman Singh, who scored his maiden Duleep Trophy half-century in 1969 at the age of 16 years and 23 days.
Former India leg-spinner Piyush Chawla occupies third place on the list, having scored a Duleep Trophy fifty at 16 years and 307 days.
Sooryavanshi’s attacking innings, which fell just eight runs short of a maiden century in the first-class tournament, was another display of maturity beyond his years. He struck seven fours and seven sixes at a strike rate of 113.58.
The teenager shared a 161-run opening partnership with Abhimanyu Easwaran before being dismissed by Central Zone left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey.
Sooryavanshi had already made headlines earlier in the semifinal after being handed the responsibility of stand-in captain when regular East Zone skipper Ishan Kishan suffered a hand injury during the opening session on Sunday. He led the side for roughly an hour on either side of lunch.
His brief stint as captain also produced a crucial moment when he successfully reviewed an on-field not-out decision in the 40th over, bowled by Mukesh Kumar. DRS confirmed an edge off Central Zone opener Aryan Juyal’s bat, giving East Zone an important breakthrough.
Earlier, Central Zone were bowled out for 266 in 80.1 overs after Kishan opted to field. Mukesh Kumar and Abhijit Sarkar claimed three wickets each, while Mohammed Shami and Kounain Quraishi took two apiece.
Rinku Singh was Central Zone’s top scorer with 60 off 88 balls, but East Zone remained firmly in control of the semifinal proceedings.
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