In a landmark domestic cricket update, 15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been appointed as Bihar’s captain for their opening two matches of the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2026.
Sooryavanshi will lead the state side in Indore against Saurashtra on 14 November and Railways on 16 November. The decision comes after regular skipper Sakibul Gani was ruled out due to injury.
Sooryavanshi’s Captaincy & Upcoming India A Assignment
Bihar assistant coach Ashok Kumar confirmed the leadership transition, describing it as a forward-looking step for the state’s talent pipeline.
“He is ready to take up this role. Sakibul Gani is injured, and hence Sooryavanshi has been given the opportunity to lead Bihar. We are preparing him for the future, and it sends a good message to young players,” Kumar told Hindustan Times.
Sooryavanshi previously served as vice-captain for the winning East Zone squad led by Ishan Kishan in the Duleep Trophy. The left-hander also recently featured in the T20I series against New Zealand, registering scores of 4 and 45.
Following his initial SMAT matches, Sooryavanshi will join the India A Rising Stars Asia Cup 50-over squad alongside Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Harshit Rana for their opening match against Nepal on 20 November.
The captaincy news comes shortly after batting legend Sachin Tendulkar cautioned against rushing leadership responsibilities during a recent Q&A, stating it was “too early” for red-ball vice-captaincy roles and emphasizing step-by-step player development.
Squad Announcements: Bihar & Delhi Realignments
Both state associations finalized their rosters for the national T20 tournament:
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Bihar Squad (Group B): Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (C), Suraj Kashyap (VC), Alok Kumar, Altamash Ashraf, Param Kumar Singh, Anmol Kumar (wk), Ayush Loharuka (wk), Ritwik Raj, Mayank Kumar, Raghvendra Pratap, Ashish Kumar, Vasudev Pratap Singh, Mohammad Izhar, Amod Yadav, Prashant Singh, Nawaz Khan, Himanshu Singh.
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Delhi Squad & Major Omission: The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) dropped former captain Nitish Rana from their 16-member squad. Ayush Badoni will captain Delhi, supported by a pace attack featuring Mayank Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Harshit Rana, and Simarjeet Singh.
