The Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) on Sunday named 14-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as Bihar’s vice-captain for the first two rounds of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season, which kicks off on October 15. Sakibul Gani has been appointed as the captain of the side.Bihar had a poor 2024-25 season and were relegated to the Plate League after losing six matches. This season, Bihar is part of the Plate League and will open their campaign against Arunachal Pradesh in Patna, before taking on Manipur in Nadiad from October 25.
“He has been elevated because of his talent and experience. What he has achieved for India U-19 and for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL has been taken into consideration,” Harsh Vardhan, president of the BCA, told TimesofIndia.com.“He is a prodigy. He made his first-class debut at 12, smoked an IPL century at 13, and the boy is unfazed by all the attention. He is the future of Bihar and Indian cricket,” said 25-year-old Harsh Vardhan.Sooryavanshi, who made his first-class debut in January 2024 at the age of 12 years and 284 days, has featured in only five matches so far. In ten innings, he has scored a total of 100 runs, with his highest score being 41.He made his first-class debut at 12, bagged his million-dollar IPL deal at 13, and then made history as the youngest player to hit a century in men’s T20s off just 35 balls.Earlier this year, he hit the fastest century on record in youth ODIs against England at Worcester. He already has a big fan following. When he traveled to the UK, he was stopped for selfies at the airport, and fans reached the venue to get his autographs.Yes, it is only a youth international, but he is the youngest player in either squad by two and a half years. He has looked at least a level or two above the rest.Amid all the glitz and glamour, Vikram Rathour, former India batting coach who is currently with Rajasthan Royals, firmly believes that Sooryavanshi is destined for big things.
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“He’s got a hundred in England, he’s got a hundred in Australia. And you see what he can do in T20 cricket (IPL). Outstanding for a kid so young,” Rathour told TimesofIndia.com.“He is a prodigy. But the great thing about him is that he’s not flustered at all. It’s not that he scored his hundred and suddenly becomes a big name in Indian cricket at a young age. Nothing has changed. He’s still so grounded and comfortable with all this suddenly happening around him. That’s a great thing to have,” he said.Bihar Ranji Trophy 2025-26 squad: Piyush Kumar Singh, Bhashkar Dubey, Sakibul Gani (capt), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (vice-capt), Arnav Kishor, Ayush Loharuka, Bipin Saurabh, Amod Yadav, Nawaz Khan, Sakib Hussain, Raghvendra Pratap Singh, Sachin Kumar Singh, Himanshu Singh, Khalid Alam, Sachin Kumar
