At Holkar Stadium in Indore on Saturday, November 14, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi walked out to lead Bihar in their opening Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026-27 fixture
against Jaydev Unadkat-led Saurashtra, becoming the youngest captain in men's T20 cricket history at 15 years and 232 days.
Bihar won the toss and elected to bat first. The Bihar Cricket Association had announced a 17-member squad for the first two fixtures of the tournament, naming Sooryavanshi as captain with Suraj Kashyap appointed as his vice-captain. The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026-27 runs from November 14 to December 6, 2026.
Who held the record before Sooryavanshi?
Croatia's Zach Vukusic previously held the distinction of being the youngest captain in men's T20 international cricket, having led his national side at 17 years and 311 days in 2025. Sooryavanshi, born on March 27, 2011, has now eclipsed that mark at the domestic level, setting a new benchmark in the format's history.
Earlier in the 2026-27 Duleep Trophy, Sooryavanshi had served as vice-captain of East Zone under Ishan Kishan, underlining the rapid leadership responsibilities being handed to the teenager across formats and competitions. The Bihar Cricket Association's decision to hand him the captaincy for the SMAT reflects the confidence the board has placed in him at an age when most players are still finding their footing in senior cricket.
What has Sooryavanshi achieved in recent months?
In India's T20I tour of New Zealand in October 2026, Sooryavanshi scored 49 runs across two appearances, his most recent international action before this SMAT assignment. He is also expected to join the India Rising Stars squad for the Asia Cup tournament in Qatar, which begins on November 19, 2026, giving him a packed schedule across domestic and international commitments.
Among his earlier landmarks in the SMAT, Sooryavanshi became the youngest batter to score a century in the tournament's history when he struck a 58-ball hundred against Maharashtra in 2025. In April 2025, he had also struck a 35-ball century for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans in the IPL, a knock that drew widespread attention to his extraordinary ability in the shortest format.
