Indore: Rising Indian batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has created history by becoming the youngest captain in men's T20 cricket at the age of 15, after being appointed to lead Bihar in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2026.
Sooryavanshi led Bihar in their Elite Group B clash against Saurashtra at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Saturday. Bihar won the toss and elected to bat first.
With his appointment, the 15-year-old has surpassed several young captains to claim the record. Croatia's Zach Vukusic is second on the list, having captained his national side against Cyprus at the age of 17 years and 311 days on August 7, 2025.
The list also features Taimur Ali, who made his captaincy debut for Quetta Bears in Pakistan's domestic T20 competition in 2009 at the age of 17 years and 358 days. Vukusic and Laksh Barkania earned their places on the list through international cricket, while Noman Amjad led France against the Czech Republic in July 2022.
The Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) announced a 17-member squad on Friday for the team's opening two matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Sooryavanshi was named captain, with Suraj Kashyap appointed vice-captain. This is the first time the 15-year-old has been entrusted with leading Bihar's senior team.
BCA president Harsh Vardhan said, "Vaibhav has already demonstrated tremendous talent, confidence and maturity at a young age, and this responsibility will provide him with another opportunity to grow as a cricketer and leader. We are hopeful that under Vaibhav's leadership, the team will deliver a disciplined, competitive and effective performance while representing the state in the upcoming season."
Earlier this year, Sooryavanshi made headlines in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, winning several awards, including the Most Valuable Player, Emerging Player of the Season, Super Striker of the Season and Orange Cap. The Rajasthan Royals batter finished as the tournament's highest run-scorer with 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30.
His tally included a record 72 sixes, and he also became the youngest player to win the Orange Cap.
