Vaibhav Suryavanshi to Lead Bihar in Saeed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026

Patna – The Bihar Cricket Association confirmed that 15‑year‑old Vaibhav Suryavanshi will captain the state side in the 2026 edition of the Saeed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The announcement came from Bihar’s sports minister, Shreyasi Singh, who praised the prodigy’s “explosive” batting technique and assured that the young leader will receive full support from the coaching team.

Singh highlighted that this appointment is a milestone for Bihar’s youth development programme, emphasizing that the state aims to produce athletes capable of competing on national and Olympic stages. She also mentioned that Bihar is hosting its first organized state‑level sports festivals, signalling a renewed focus on building a comprehensive sports ecosystem.

Vaibhav’s record as one of the youngest Indian cricketers to feature internationally adds weight to his new responsibility. The captain’s role will involve steering the team through the tournament’s opening fixtures, supported by teammates Alok Kumar, Ayush Loharu, Altimis Ashraf, Tarun Kumar Singh, Anmol Kumar (wicket‑keeper), and vice‑captain Suraj Kashyap, among others. A sizable standby list, featuring players such as Bipin Saurabh and Suman Kumar, remains on standby to fill any gaps during the competition.