Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Gets First Senior Captaincy Role, Takes Charge of Bihar for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is set for a new challenge in his rapidly rising cricket career after being appointed captain of Bihar’s senior team for the opening two matches of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, beginning November 14.

The 15-year-old left-handed batter will lead a 17-member squad, marking his first stint as captain of Bihar’s senior side. Suraj Kashyap has been named vice-captain, the Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) announced on Friday.

Bihar will open their campaign against Saurashtra on November 14 in Indore. They have been placed in Group B alongside Delhi, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Railways and Tamil Nadu.

BCA president Harsh Vardhan said the appointment would give Sooryavanshi an opportunity to develop his leadership skills while helping the team compete at the senior level.

“Vaibhav has already demonstrated tremendous talent, confidence and maturity at a young age. We are hopeful that under his leadership, the team will deliver a disciplined and competitive performance,” he said.

Sooryavanshi’s appointment comes after an extraordinary year in which he has established himself as one of Indian cricket’s most exciting young prospects. Representing Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026, he finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 776 runs in 16 innings, striking at an astonishing rate of more than 237.

He also made headlines in the Under-19 World Cup final, smashing a match-winning 175 off 80 balls to power India to a 100-run victory over England.

The teenager has since made his senior India debut in T20 internationals, featuring in 10 matches. In his recent appearance against New Zealand, he scored 45 off 19 balls, sharing a 133-run opening partnership with Abhishek Sharma.

Meanwhile, Mangal Mahour and Shakib Hussain have been included subject to fitness assessments after Bihar’s first two matches.