The Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) has announced its squad for the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season, with Sakibul Gani appointed as captain and 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi making cricket history as the youngest-ever vice-captain in the tournament’s 91-year history.
The announcement came just 48 hours before the season opener, ending weeks of administrative uncertainty that had left Bihar without a properly selected squad. The first match against Arunachal Pradesh begins on October 15 at Patna’s Moin-ul-Haq Stadium.
Administrative Crisis Resolved at Eleventh Hour
Bihar’s squad selection faced unprecedented challenges due to a shortage of selectors, with only two of the required five-member selection committee in place. The BCCI had to intervene, allowing the BCA to appoint an interim selector on an ad-hoc basis to complete the three-member panel needed for squad selection.
Neeraj Singh, General Manager (Admin) of BCA, explained the crisis: “Currently, BCA has two selectors available for the senior category, while three positions remain vacant. BCA sent a proposal to BCCI via email to fill these three vacancies”. The Board of Control for Cricket in India ultimately approved a stop-gap arrangement to ensure Bihar could field a team for the tournament.
Suryavanshi’s Meteoric Rise Continues
The appointment of Vaibhav Suryavanshi as vice-captain represents another milestone in the young prodigy’s remarkable journey. At just 14 years old, he becomes the youngest player ever to hold a leadership position in the Ranji Trophy.
Suryavanshi’s elevation comes on the back of exceptional performances for India Under-19 on recent tours. In Australia, he smashed a 78-ball century in the first four-day match in Brisbane and finished as the second-highest run-scorer of the multi-day series with 133 runs in three innings as India secured a 2-0 victory.
Prior to that, he made headlines in England by hitting 143 off 64 balls in Worcester – the fastest century in youth one-day internationals – finishing with 355 runs in five matches at an extraordinary strike rate of 174.01.
Record-Breaking Career Trajectory
Suryavanshi first made his mark in domestic cricket by debuting in the Ranji Trophy at the age of 12 years and 284 days in January 2024. He later became the youngest player ever selected in the Indian Premier League when Rajasthan Royals picked him at age 13.
In IPL 2025, he created history by scoring a 35-ball century against Gujarat Titans, becoming the youngest centurion in men’s T20 cricket at 14 years old. The knock was also the second-fastest century in IPL history.
Former India batting coach Vikram Rathour, currently with Rajasthan Royals, praised Suryavanshi’s temperament: “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. He is a prodigy. But the great thing about him is that he’s not flustered at all”.
Captain Sakibul Gani’s Leadership
Sakibul Gani, the 25-year-old batter who will lead Bihar, brings his own record-breaking credentials to the captaincy. In February 2022, he became the first cricketer to score a triple century on debut in first-class cricket, amassing 341 runs against Mizoram.
Gani followed up with scores of 98 and 101 not out in his next two innings, giving him the highest aggregate in a batter’s first three innings in first-class cricket with 540 runs. His appointment as captain reflects Bihar’s strategy of investing in young, proven performers.
Bihar’s Challenging Campaign Ahead
Bihar will compete in the Plate Group this season after being relegated from the Elite Group following a disappointing 2024-25 campaign where they failed to win a single match, securing just one point in seven games and suffering six outright defeats.
The team’s fixture list includes:
October 15-18: vs Arunachal Pradesh (Patna)
October 25-28: vs Manipur (Nadiad)
November 1-4: vs Meghalaya (Patna)
November 8-11: vs Sikkim (away)
November 16-19: vs Mizoram (Patna)
The top two teams from the Plate Group will qualify for the final, with the winner earning promotion to the Elite Group for the next season.
Squad Composition and Support Staff
The 15-member Bihar squad comprises: Piyush Kumar Singh, Bhashkar Dubey, Sakibul Gani (captain), Vaibhav Suryavanshi (vice-captain), Arnav Kishor, Ayush Loharuka, Bipin Saurabh, Amod Yadav, Nawaz Khan, Sakib Hussain, Raghvendra Pratap Singh, Sachin Kumar Singh, Himanshu Singh, Khalid Alam, and Sachin Kumar.
The support staff includes Vinayak Samant (head coach), Kumar Mridul (assistant coach), Dr. Hemendu Kumar Singh (physiotherapist), and Gopal Kumar (strength and conditioning coach), with Nandan Kumar Singh appointed as team manager.
Uncertainty Over Suryavanshi’s Availability
While Suryavanshi’s appointment as vice-captain has generated excitement, his availability for the entire season remains uncertain. The young star is likely to be selected for India’s squad for the Under-19 World Cup scheduled for early 2026 in Zimbabwe and Namibia.
This potential conflict means Bihar may need to manage without their vice-captain for crucial matches, highlighting both the opportunity and challenge of having such a talented young player in their ranks.
The 2025-26 Ranji Trophy marks the 91st edition of India’s premier domestic first-class tournament, with 138 matches scheduled across Elite and Plate groups. For Bihar, this season represents a crucial opportunity to rebuild after relegation and return to the Elite Group.
The appointment of Suryavanshi as vice-captain at 14 not only makes cricket history but also symbolizes Bihar’s commitment to youth development and their faith in the next generation of cricketers. As the season begins on October 15, all eyes will be on whether this bold leadership gamble pays dividends for the struggling state association.
