Named captain, Sooryavanshi will lead Bihar in only one SMAT game
The 15-year-old will then head to Doha for the Emerging Asia Cup tournament
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has been named captain of Bihar for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, will turn out for his state in only one game before flying out to Doha for the India 'A' Rising Stars Emerging Asia Cup tournament. The Bihar selectors, however, felt it was still worthwhile to appoint him captain for the tournament, given the special place he has carved out for himself in the format with his fearless style of batting.
The selectors, who met in Patna on Friday (November 6), had a word with the teenager before making the announcement. “He agreed to lead the side in the first match, and we have decided to hand him the captaincy. After the first match, however, he will not be available,” said Harvinder Singh, chief selector of the Bihar team.
Post the first game, he will leave for the Emerging Asia Cup tournament which will be held in Qatar from November 19 to 29. The SMAT Super League starts on November 30 with the final slated for December 6. In his absence Suraj Kashyap, named vice-captain, will lead the side. Bihar, placed in the Elite Group B, will take on Saurashtra in the first game in Indore on November 14.
This is the first time Sooryavanshi will lead the senior Bihar side and in the process, he will also become the youngest player ever to captain a team in T20 cricket. Sooryavanshi, who arrived recently from New Zealand, will leave for Doha on November 16 with the Tilak Varma-led side.
