Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's meteoric rise continues as Bihar hand him captaincy at 15

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's remarkable rise in Indian cricket has reached another milestone, with the teenage batting sensation appointed captain of Bihar's senior team at just 15 for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) on Friday announced a 17-member squad for the opening two matches of the domestic T20 tournament, entrusting Sooryavanshi with the responsibility of leading the side. Suraj Kashyap has been named vice-captain, with Bihar set to begin its campaign in Indore from November 14. This will be the first time Sooryavanshi leads Bihar's senior side, adding another significant responsibility to a career that has progressed at an extraordinary pace. BCA president Harsh Vardhan expressed confidence in the youngster's ability to handle the leadership role, highlighting the maturity he has displayed despite his age. "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. We are hopeful that under Vaibhav's leadership, the team will deliver a disciplined, competitive and effective performance while representing the state in the upcoming season," Vardhan said.

Sooryavanshi's appointment comes after a series of impressive performances that have brought him into the national spotlight. Representing Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026, the young batter attracted widespread attention with his aggressive approach and ability to take on established bowlers. His performances subsequently earned him an opportunity in the Indian team, where he showcased his attacking instincts in international T20 cricket. He was particularly impressive in India's recent third T20 International against New Zealand, where he opened alongside Abhishek Sharma. The pair produced a record-breaking assault, smashing 118 runs without losing a wicket in the powerplay — the highest score in the first six overs in men's T20 International cricket. Their opening partnership eventually yielded 133 runs off just 43 deliveries. Sooryavanshi contributed 45 off 19 balls, while Abhishek stole the show with a blistering 113 off 38 deliveries. The Bihar youngster will now look to translate his individual success into leadership on the domestic circuit, with the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy providing another platform to strengthen his credentials.

The BCA's senior selection committee finalised the squad on November 6 after evaluating players during trials held from November 4 to 6 and reviewing their previous performances. Selection committee chairman Harvinder Singh and member Amitabh Vijayvargiya attended the meeting, while selector S. Sarath participated over the telephone. The 17-member squad comprises Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (captain), Alok Kumar, Ayush Loharuka (wicketkeeper), Altamash Ashraf, Param Kumar Singh, Anmol Kumar (wicketkeeper), Ritwik Raj, Suraj Kashyap (vice-captain), Mayank Kumar, Raghvendra Pratap, Ashish Kumar, Vasudev Pratap Singh, Mohammad Izhar, Amod Yadav, Prashant Singh, Nawaz Khan and Himanshu Singh. The selection of Mangal Mahour and Shakib Hussain will remain subject to fitness assessments after Bihar's first two matches, following which a final decision will be taken on their availability. Sixteen players, including Bipin Saurabh, Suman Kumar, Akash Raj, Khalid Alam, Bhaskar Dubey and Kumar Rajnish, have been named as standbys.