Even though Rajasthan Royals’ campaign in IPL 2025 has come to an end, the season is far from over for Vaibhav Suryavanshi. In an interesting development, his domestic cricket coach has changed mid-season. While his childhood coach, Manish Ojha, laid the foundation of Vaibhav’s cricketing journey, the latest update comes from his domestic team, Bihar.
Vinayak Samant Appointed as Bihar’s New Head Coach
The Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) has appointed Vinayak Samant as the head coach for the upcoming domestic season. Samant, a former Mumbai wicketkeeper, brings a wealth of experience both on and off the field. He will now coach Vaibhav Suryavanshi in domestic cricket and will be tasked with guiding Bihar through the upcoming Ranji Trophy and other domestic tournaments.
Who Is Vinayak Samant?
Samant has an impressive coaching résumé:
- Former Mumbai coach (2018–2020)
- Fielding coach at Assam Cricket Academy (2023–24)
- Coach of Mumbai U-23 team in the 2023–24 CK Nayudu Trophy
- Head coach of Belgium’s national team in the European League
Now, he takes on the role of shaping Bihar’s cricketing future — and that includes working closely with rising star Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
Excited to Work with Vaibhav
Speaking to Mumbai Mirror, Vinayak Samant expressed his enthusiasm about the new role. “I’m looking forward to taking Bihar cricket to the next level and working with the promising talent here,” he said. About Vaibhav, Samant added:
“We’ve all seen his talent in the IPL. He’s still young and I don’t want to interfere with his natural game. But yes, I’ll help him adapt to red-ball cricket so he can shine in the Ranji Trophy.”
Coach’s Salary Estimated Between ₹15–20 Lakh
Although the Bihar Cricket Association has not officially disclosed Samant’s salary, sources suggest he could be earning between ₹15 to ₹20 lakh for the season. His appointment was overseen by Anand Yalvigi, a former Mumbai cricketer and current Director of Game Development and Operations at the BCA.
