At 15, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi takes charge as Bihar captain for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
Teenage cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been handed a major leadership responsibility after being named captain of the senior Bihar men's team for the opening two matches of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026.
The Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) announced a 17-member squad on Friday, with the 15-year-old left-handed batter set to lead the side in its opening fixtures from November 14.
Bihar will begin their campaign against Saurashtra before taking on Railways on November 16. Suraj Kashyap has been appointed vice-captain.
BCA backs teenage star with leadership role
Explaining the decision, BCA president Harsh Vardhan said the captaincy would provide Sooryavanshi with an opportunity to develop his leadership abilities alongside his batting skills.
"Vaibhav has already demonstrated tremendous talent, confidence and maturity at a young age, and this responsibility will provide him with another opportunity to grow as a cricketer and leader," he said, as quoted by IANS.
The BCA expressed confidence that Sooryavanshi's leadership would help Bihar deliver disciplined and competitive performances in the tournament.
From Under-19 World Cup Hero to IPL sensation
The captaincy comes after an extraordinary year for the young cricketer.
Sooryavanshi played a pivotal role in India's triumph at the 2026 Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup, producing a spectacular 175-run knock in the final. He also finished the tournament as Player of the Tournament.
He carried that remarkable form into the IPL 2026 season, where he emerged as the leading run-scorer for Rajasthan Royals. The teenager amassed 776 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 237.30.
His performances earned him a place in India's T20I squad, making him the youngest cricketer to represent the country in international cricket when he made his debut against England in Manchester in July.
Record-breaking T20I partnership adds to his rise
Sooryavanshi continued to attract attention in India's recent T20I series against New Zealand.
In the third T20I, he combined with Abhishek Sharma to produce a sensational 118-run opening partnership in the first six overs.
Their explosive start registered the highest powerplay score in men's T20I cricket.
With the Bihar captaincy now added to his growing list of achievements, the youngster will be looking to strengthen his credentials as he pushes for a regular place in India's T20I setup.
Two players await fitness clearance
Bihar's squad was finalised following selection trials held between November 4 and 6, along with an assessment of players' previous performances.
Mangal Mahour and pacer Shakib Hussain have been included subject to fitness clearance. Their availability will be reviewed after the first two matches.
The BCA has also named 16 standby players. The support staff currently associated with Bihar's Ranji Trophy team will continue with the squad throughout the tournament.
Bihar squad for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (captain), Suraj Kashyap (vice-captain), Alok Kumar, Ayush Loharuka (wicketkeeper), Altamash Ashraf, Param Kumar Singh, Anmol Kumar (wicketkeeper), Ritwik Raj, Mayank Kumar, Raghvendra Pratap, Ashish Kumar, Vasudev Pratap Singh, Mohammad Izhar, Amod Yadav, Prashant Singh, Nawaz Khan and Himanshu Singh.
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