Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Focuses on Red-Ball Preparation at Rajasthan Royals Camp Ahead of Duleep Trophy 2026
Fifteen-year-old cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has shifted his focus to red-ball cricket following his return from India’s tour of Zimbabwe. The young batter is participating in a 10-day pre-season camp at the Rajasthan Royals Academy in Talegaon, near Nagpur, where he is working with Rajasthan Royals assistant coach and former India batting coach Vikram Rathour.
What Happened
Sooryavanshi, who was named Player of the Series during India’s tour of Zimbabwe, has entered an intensive training block designed to develop his long-format game. Having debuted internationally against England in August 2026 as the youngest player to represent India at the international level, and having led the IPL 2026 batting charts, he has actively pushed back against perceptions that he is solely a white-ball specialist.
The training camp is taking place at the Rajasthan Royals High Performance Centre in Talegaon. The facility includes soil-specific practice pitches designed to simulate various domestic match conditions, alongside dedicated infrastructure for red-ball cricket. Joining Sooryavanshi at the camp are fellow cricketers Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma, Shubham Dubey, Ravi Singh, and Sushant Mishra.
Key Highlights
- Camp Location and Mentorship: A 10-day training programme at the Talegaon facility near Nagpur under Rajasthan Royals assistant coach Vikram Rathour.
- Comprehensive Training Focus: Individualised regimens covering technical work, strength and conditioning, workload management, performance analysis, and recovery.
- Upcoming Domestic Assignment: Sooryavanshi has been appointed vice-captain of the East Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy 2026, serving under captain Ishan Kishan.
- Camp Attendees: The training group includes Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma, Shubham Dubey, Ravi Singh, and Sushant Mishra.
Why This Matters
According to the Rajasthan Royals franchise, the pre-season camp aims to prepare players across multiple dimensions before the domestic season begins. Romi Bhinder, the franchise’s head of operations, stated that the High Performance Centre was established with a long-term goal of fostering player development throughout the year, extending beyond the IPL tournament months of April and May.
Vikram Rathour highlighted the value of the pre-season window, noting that the centre facilitates customised programmes within a squad environment to help players refine skills and meet the physical and technical demands of the domestic cricket season.
What to Watch Next
The Duleep Trophy 2026 is scheduled to begin on August 23, 2026, in Bengaluru. Sooryavanshi will feature as vice-captain for East Zone, while his camp-mate Tushar Deshpande will turn out for West Zone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What role will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play in the Duleep Trophy 2026?
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been named vice-captain of the East Zone squad, which is captained by Ishan Kishan. The squad was announced on July 29, 2026.
Where is the Rajasthan Royals pre-season camp taking place?
The 10-day pre-season camp is being held at the Rajasthan Royals High Performance Centre in Talegaon, located near Nagpur.
When does the Duleep Trophy 2026 begin?
The domestic tournament is scheduled to get under way in Bengaluru on August 23, 2026.
Source: Crictracker and franchise statements reported by Cricbuzz.