Young Sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Appointed Bihar Captain for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
Young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to lead Bihar's 17-member squad in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Get the full squad details here.
In a bold move reflecting a shift toward youth and aggression, the Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) has appointed the young batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as the captain of the Bihar senior team. The announcement came on Friday as the BCA unveiled a 17-member squad to compete in the opening two matches of the BCCI-organized Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy.
While Sooryavanshi takes the helm, Suraj Kashyap has been named the vice-captain. This appointment marks the first time the young batter will lead the state's senior side, signaling the BCA's trust in his leadership capabilities alongside his undeniable talent on the field.
BCA President Backs Young Leader
Expressing confidence in the decision, BCA President Harsh Vardhan highlighted that Sooryavanshi has already shown a level of maturity and confidence that belies his age. According to Vardhan, this leadership role is designed to help Vaibhav grow further as both a cricketer and a leader.
"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," said Harsh Vardhan. He added that the association expects a disciplined and competitive performance from the team under this new leadership.
The Selection Process
The squad was finalized following a meeting on November 6, 2026, by the senior selection committee. The process involved a rigorous evaluation of player trials held between November 4 and 6, as well as a review of previous performances. The meeting was attended by selection committee chairman Harvinder Singh and member Amitabh Vijayvargiya, with selector S. Sarath joining via telephone.
The 17-Member Bihar Squad
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Captain)
- Suraj Kashyap (Vice-Captain)
- Alok Kumar
- Ayush Loharuka (Wicketkeeper)
- Anmol Kumar (Wicketkeeper)
- Altamash Ashraf
- Param Kumar Singh
- Ritwik Raj
- Mayank Kumar
- Raghvendra Pratap
- Ashish Kumar
- Vasudev Pratap Singh
- Mohammad Izhar
- Amod Yadav
- Prashant Singh
- Nawaz Khan
- Himanshu Singh
The BCA also noted that the selection of Mangal Mahour and Shakib Hussain remains subject to their fitness. The committee will assess their condition after the first two matches before deciding on their availability.
A Meteoric Rise: From IPL to World Records
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's appointment comes on the heels of an extraordinary run in professional cricket. After grabbing headlines with his aggressive batting for the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026, he quickly transitioned to the international stage.
He recently etched his name into the record books during the third T20 International against New Zealand. Opening the innings with Abhishek Sharma, the duo shattered the world record for the highest powerplay score in men's T20 International cricket, smashing 118 runs in just six overs. The pair shared a massive opening stand of 133 runs off 43 balls, with Vaibhav contributing a blistering 45 runs off 19 deliveries.
Looking Ahead
The appointment has been celebrated by the BCA administration, including Administrator and former Patna High Court Justice Ashwini Kumar Singh, who joined President Harsh Vardhan in congratulating the young captain.
With a world-record-breaking form behind him, all eyes will now be on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to see if he can translate his individual brilliance into team success as Bihar begins its campaign in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Standby Players
To ensure depth, the BCA has named a comprehensive list of standby players: Bipin Saurabh, Suman Kumar, Akash Raj, Khalid Alam, Bhaskar Dubey, Kumar Rajnish, Suyash, Abhijeet Saket, Yashasvi Rishabh, Lakhan Raja, Pawan Kumar, Amit Chaudhary, Piyush Singh, Bhanu Kumar, Lokesh Babulal Kumar, and Prashant Srivastava.