Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a 15-year-old batter from East Zone, became the youngest player to score a half-century in Duleep Trophy history on 31 August 2026. He reached the milestone in the semi-final against Central Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Duleep Trophy and its format
The Duleep Trophy is an ഇന്ത്യന് domestic first-class cricket tournament organised under the Board of Control for Cricket in India. It has traditionally featured zonal teams such as East Zone, Central Zone, North Zone, South Zone, West Zone and North East Zone.
Record details and batting figures
Sooryavanshi scored his fifty in 42 balls and was dismissed for 92 runs off 81 balls. His innings included seven fours and seven sixes, and he fell eight runs short of a century.
With this innings, he broke a 57-year-old tournament record set in January 1969 by Laxman Singh, who had scored a Duleep Trophy fifty at the age of 16 years and 23 days. Sooryavanshi was 15 years and 157 days old when he reached the landmark.
Captaincy record and match context
On 30 August 2026, Sooryavanshi became the youngest captain in Duleep Trophy history after regular East Zone captain Ishan Kishan suffered a finger injury. His innings helped East Zone build a 161-run opening partnership and post 266 in the first innings.
Central Zone ended Day 2 at 45 for 3 in reply. The match was played as a semi-final fixture at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Important Facts for Exams
- The Duleep Trophy is a first-class cricket tournament in India.
- Laxman Singh held the previous youngest half-century record in the Duleep Trophy since January 1969.
- Sachin Tendulkar remains the youngest Duleep Trophy centurion with a score achieved at 17 years and 262 days.
- East Zone and Central Zone are among the zonal teams used in the Duleep Trophy format.
