Industry Odisha Bureau, Aug 31: Playing his second first-class match, the East Zone opener reached a 42-ball fifty to become the youngest to score a half-century in Duleep Trophy history, before falling for 92.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi added another record to his growing list on Monday, becoming the youngest player to score a half-century in Duleep Trophy history. The 15-year-old opener, playing for East Zone in their semifinal against defending champions Central Zone, reached his fifty in just 42 balls before being dismissed for 92, eight runs short of what would have been the youngest Duleep Trophy hundred.
Sooryavanshi’s landmark knock came a day after he was handed added responsibility, having led East Zone in the absence of regular skipper Ishan Kishan. On Monday, he turned his attention back to the bat, batting with the same aggressive intent that has become his trademark since his rise through age-group and domestic cricket.
The Innings
Opening the batting for East Zone, Sooryavanshi raced to his fifty off just 42 deliveries, striking three sixes and five fours along the way. He continued in the same vein after the milestone, pushing his personal score to 92 before losing his wicket a dismissal that denied him a shot at becoming the youngest centurion in the tournament’s history.
The Record
In reaching his half-century at 15 years and 157 days, Sooryavanshi broke a mark that had stood for 57 years. The previous record belonged to Laxman Singh, who scored his maiden Duleep Trophy fifty in 1969 at the age of 16 years and 23 days nearly two years older than Sooryavanshi is now. Piyush Chawla held the next-youngest mark, having reached a Duleep Trophy fifty at 16 years and 307 days in 2025.
Youngest to Score a Duleep Trophy Fifty
| Rank | Player | Age of scoring Duleep Trophy Fifty |
| 1 | Vaibhav Sooryavansh | 15 years, 157 days |
| 2 | Laxman Singh (1969) | 16 years, 23 days |
| 3 | Piyush Chawla (2025) | 16 years, 307 days |
Match Context
The record came on the back of a disciplined bowling effort by East Zone on Day 1, when Central Zone were bowled out for 266 in 80.1 overs. East Zone captain Ishan Kishan’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss paid off, with veteran seamer Mukesh Kumar (3/56) and fellow right-arm medium-pacer Abhijit Sarkar (3/38) sharing six wickets between them. Mohammed Shami (2/42) and off-spinner Md Kounain Quraishi (2/49) chipped in with two wickets apiece to complete the rout.
Kishan’s morning session was cut short when he was struck on the right wrist while fielding, forcing him off the field. Sooryavanshi stepped in as stand-in captain for close to an hour on either side of lunch before Kishan returned to resume charge of the side.
Significance
Sooryavanshi’s fifty adds to a run of milestones the teenager has posted across formats this year, underlining the aggressive, high-tempo approach that has defined his batting since he first drew national attention. Falling agonisingly short of a hundred will likely add to the sense that a maiden first-class century is only a matter of time, though the innings itself attacking a full-strength Central Zone bowling attack in a knockout semifinal will be remembered as a significant statement in its own right.
With East Zone having bowled Central Zone out cheaply on Day 1 and their teenage opener striking with intent on Day 2, the team will look to build a substantial first-innings lead as the semifinal progresses.
