Indian cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has created history by becoming the youngest captain in men's T20 cricket at just 15 years of age. He has been appointed to lead Bihar in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2026.
Sooryavanshi captained Bihar in their Elite Group B clash against Saurashtra at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Saturday. Bihar won the toss and elected to bat first. With this achievement, he surpassed Croatia's Zach Vukusic, who previously held the record at 17 years and 311 days.
The Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) announced a 17-member squad for the tournament's opening two matches, naming Suraj Kashyap as vice-captain. This is Sooryavanshi's first opportunity to lead Bihar's senior team. The youngster's appointment follows a sensational IPL 2026 season with Rajasthan Royals, where he scored 776 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 237.30. He also won five major awards, including the Orange Cap, MVP and Emerging Player of the Season.
With 72 sixes in the tournament, Sooryavanshi established himself as one of India's most exciting young talents. Now, he will look to prove his leadership abilities and guide Bihar to success in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.