Kolkata: Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) has made a mid-season leadership change following the team’s disappointing start to the Ranji Trophy campaign, relieving out-of-from Sakibul Gani of captaincy duty while making in-form opener Mangal Mahrour skipper for the upcoming fourth-round match against Goa in Panaji from Monday.The decision comes after Bihar suffered three successive defeats in the opening phase of the season. All-rounder Gani, who captained the side in the first three matches, has endured a subdued form with the bat and ball and will now serve as Mahrour’s deputy.The move represents Bihar’s first major shake-up of the campaign as the team looks to arrest its slide and revive its prospects in the competition. The 34-year-old Mahrour, among the side’s more experienced domestic performers, has been entrusted with leading the turnaround.The BCCI-appointed selectors have also infused fresh talent into the squad by drafting three players from the under-23 setup. Batter Prithvi Raj, spinner Suman Kumar and fast bowler Vasudev Prasad Singh have all earned places in the 16-member squad for the Goa fixture.Vasudev’s inclusion is particularly noteworthy. The young pacer recently returned from Australia after training through the MRF Pace Foundation programme and has been among Bihar’s standout performers at the age-group level. He enhanced his credentials with a six-wicket haul against Odisha in an under-23 match earlier this season.The elevation of three under-23 players alongside the change in captaincy indicates a willingness by the selectors to look beyond the established core following Bihar’s struggling start.There was also a return for wicketkeeper-batter Bipin Saurabh, who missed Bihar’s previous outing due to illness.The remainder of the squad includes Ayush Loharuka, Naman Gaurav, Sraman Nigrodh, Akash Raj, Khalid Alam, Suraj Kashyap, Md Izhar, Amod Yadav, Malay Raj and Himanshu Singh.With three defeats from as many matches, Bihar head into the Goa encounter under pressure to secure a change in fortunes. The new leadership combination of Mahrour and Gani, along with the inclusion of promising young players, reflects the team’s attempt to reset after a disappointing start to the season.
