India, Aug. 22 -- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's young career has moved at a pace that has made almost every new assignment feel like another landmark. International cricket arrived at 15. An IPL season overflowing with runs was followed by a difficult introduction to T20Is in England and then a Player of the Series performance in Zimbabwe.

On Sunday, however, comes a rather different examination. When East Zone begin their Duleep Trophy campaign against North East Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, Sooryavanshi will not only walk out as a batter trying to establish himself in senior red-ball cricket. At 15, he will also do so as vice-captain of a side containing Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, Abhimanyu Easwaran and captain Ishan...