Vaibhav Sooryavanshi becomes youngest men's T20 captain
The 15-year-old Bihar batter led his side against Saurashtra in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on Saturday.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the youngest-ever men’s T20 captain on Saturday, November 14, while leading Bihar against Saurashtra at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. At 15 years and 232 days, the left-handed batter from Samastipur, Bihar, surpassed the previous record held by Croatia’s Zach Vukusic, who was 17 years and 311 days old when he captained his side in August 2025, according to Sportstar and News18.
Bihar won the toss and elected to bat first in the Elite Group B match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT). Sooryavanshi scored 18 runs off 12 balls, an innings that included two fours and a six, before being dismissed, Sportstar reported.
The Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) announced a 17-member squad for the opening two matches of the tournament, with Suraj Kashyap serving as vice-captain, Deccan Chronicle said. BCA president Harsh Vardhan stated that Sooryavanshi has demonstrated talent, confidence and maturity, and expressed hope that the team will deliver a competitive performance under his leadership.
Sooryavanshi, who is a regular in India’s T20I squad, previously served as Bihar’s Ranji Trophy vice-captain last season. He was also a deputy to Ishan Kishan during the 2026-27 Duleep Trophy, where East Zone won.
Earlier this year, Sooryavanshi was named the Most Valuable Player and the youngest Orange Cap winner during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 while playing for Rajasthan Royals. He is expected to play another round of the SMAT before joining the India A side for the Rising Stars Asia Cup in Qatar starting November 19, Sportstar reported.