The much-anticipated Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season kicks off on October 15, and in a surprise move, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been appointed vice-captain of Bihar for the opening two rounds. He will serve under the leadership of seasoned batter Sakibul Gani.
The announcement came just 48 hours before the tournament’s start, amid administrative reshuffling within the Bihar Cricket Association (BCA). The BCA was forced to hastily appoint a third selector on an interim basis, following a directive from the BCCI to expand its selection committee to the standard five-member panel.
Despite his age and limited domestic exposure, Suryavanshi’s rise to vice-captaincy is a reflection of his red-hot form at the youth international level. The young opener caught the eye during India Under-19’s tour of Australia earlier this year, where he hammered a 78-ball century in Brisbane and ended the multi-day series as the second-highest run-scorer with 133 runs in three innings. India swept the series 2-0.
Earlier in the summer, Suryavanshi also left a mark in England, where he smashed a record-breaking 143 in Worcester – the fastest century ever recorded in youth ODIs. He racked up 355 runs in five games at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 174.01, topping the scoring charts by a comfortable margin.
Though still early in his first-class journey, Suryavanshi has already played five games since making his debut in January 2024 – at just 12 years and 284 days old. He has, however, struggled for consistency in the red-ball format, scoring only 100 runs across 10 innings, with a highest of 41. His involvement with India Under-19s has limited his appearances in the Ranji Trophy, making it difficult to establish a steady rhythm in the domestic circuit.
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Burst into the scenes
Suryavanshi made headlines earlier this year when he became the youngest centurion in men’s T20 history, blasting 101 off just 38 balls for the Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans in Jaipur during the IPL 2025 season. Having made history even before his 14th birthday by becoming the youngest player ever picked in the IPL, he went on to play seven matches, scoring 252 runs at a phenomenal strike rate of 206.55 – all as an opener.
Now, as Bihar look to bounce back from a disastrous 2024-25 season – where they failed to win a single match and earned just one point in seven games – the BCA is hoping Suryavanshi’s presence can help inject some spark into a struggling setup. Bihar currently compete in the Plate league and will begin their campaign at home against Arunachal Pradesh, followed by an away fixture against Manipur in Nadiad on October 25.
However, Suryavanshi may not be available for the entire season. With the ICC Under-19 World Cup scheduled for early 2026, he is among the frontrunners to be selected for the national squad, which could see him depart mid-season for national duty.
While there have been whispers about Suryavanshi potentially moving to a more prominent domestic setup, the BCA remains determined to retain their young superstar. For now, Bihar is banking on their teen sensation to lead from the front – even if only briefly – as they aim for a return to the Elite division.
Bihar Ranji Trophy 2025-26 squad
Piyush Kumar Singh, Bhashkar Dubey, Sakibul Gani (C), Vaibhav Suryavanshi (VC), Arnav Kishor, Ayush Loharuka, Bipin Saurabh, Amod Yadav, Nawaz Khan, Sakib Hussain, Raghvendra Pratap Singh, Sachin Kumar Singh, Himanshu Singh, Khalid Alam, Sachin Kumar
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