The Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) made a groundbreaking announcement on Sunday, naming 14-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as the vice-captain for the first two rounds of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season, which is set to commence on October 15. The team will be led by Sakibul Gani as captain.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi pictured with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Jayprakash Narayan International Airport, Patna.
After a challenging 2024-25 season that saw them relegated to the Plate League with six losses, Bihar is eager to turn their fortunes around. Their campaign will begin against Arunachal Pradesh in Patna, followed by a match against Manipur in Nadiad starting October 25.
Harsh Vardhan, the 25-year-old president of the BCA, expressed immense confidence in the young talent. “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,” Vardhan stated. He further added, “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.”
Sooryavanshi’s journey is indeed extraordinary. He debuted in first-class cricket in January 2024 at the tender age of 12 years and 284 days. While his first-class record currently shows 100 runs from ten innings with a top score of 41, his other achievements speak volumes. He secured a significant IPL deal at 13 and made history as the youngest player to score a century in men’s T20s, achieving the feat in just 35 balls.
Earlier this year, Vaibhav also recorded the fastest century in youth ODIs against England in Worcester. His burgeoning talent has already garnered a considerable fan base, with reports of him being stopped for selfies at airports and fans flocking to venues for his autographs during his UK travels. Despite being a youth international, he stands out as significantly younger and more advanced than his peers in the squad.
Vikram Rathour, a former India batting coach and current member of the Rajasthan Royals staff, believes Sooryavanshi is destined for greatness. “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 commented. He praised the youngster’s temperament: “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.”