Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to captain Bihar for one SMAT 2026 match

Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been named captain of Bihar for their opening Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Saurashtra in Indore on November 14. CricTracker reported that Bihar selectors made the appointment during a meeting in Patna on November 6, with chief selector Harvinder Singh confirming the decision.

One-match captaincy and Emerging Asia Cup commitment

Sooryavanshi will lead Bihar in only one SMAT game. After the Saurashtra fixture, he will join the Tilak Varma-led India Rising Stars squad for the Emerging Asia Cup in Doha, Qatar, scheduled from November 19 to 29.

Suraj Kashyap, named vice-captain, will take over leadership for the remainder of Bihar's Elite Group B matches and any Super League fixtures from November 30 to December 6.

Harvinder Singh confirmed that Sooryavanshi had agreed to lead the side in the first match but would not be available afterward, saying: “He agreed to lead the side in the first match, and we have decided to hand him the captaincy. ”

Background and previous domestic form

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi represents Bihar in domestic cricket and Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, a Twenty20 league featuring 10 teams across 74 matches.

He was previously named East Zone’s vice-captain in the Duleep Trophy in August-September and briefly stepped in to lead on Ishan Kishan’s behalf when the captain had to leave the field due to injury during the Duleep Trophy final.

Bihar's last SMAT season produced one win in seven group games. 37. Bihar are in Elite Group B and will begin their campaign against Saurashtra in Indore on November 14.

Related on Apex Sports News

• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi appointed Bihar captain for first two Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy games

• India A squad for Rising Stars Asia Cup: Tilak Varma named captain, Sooryavanshi included; Harshit Rana returns

• Ranji Trophy: Late strikes help Railways keep Mumbai in check on day one

Sources

• cricbuzz.com

• crictracker.com