Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's explosive 175, studded with 15 sixes, propelled India to a record-shattering total in the Under-19 World Cup final and rewrote the record books.
Key Points
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored a record-breaking 175 off 80 balls, which included 15 sixes, in the Under-19 World Cup final against England.
- His century came off just 55 balls, making him the second-fastest centurion in Under-19 World Cup history.
- India's total of 411 for 9 is the highest ever in an Under-19 World Cup final.
- Sooryavanshi now holds the record for most sixes in a Youth ODI innings and the fastest 150 in Under-19 cricket.
- His innings included 15 sixes and 15 fours, 150 of his 175 runs coming from boundaries.
Batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi lit up the grand stage with a jaw-dropping 175 to power India to a record-extending sixth ICC Under-19 World Cup title after a 100-run victory over England in the final in Harare on Friday.
The triumph adds to India's previous titles in 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018 and 2022, underlining their dominance in the tournament's history.
The 14-year-old Sooryavanshi blazed his way to a stunning 175 off just 80 balls, recording the fastest 150 in Under-19 cricket history. He attained the milestone off 71 deliveries, as India piled up a daunting 411 for 9 after electing to bat.
In response, England kept the required run-rate within sight for large parts of the chase but lost wickets at regular intervals, which steadily derailed their pursuit.
Bruised and battered following Sooryavanshi's brutal onslaught, England's innings ended at 311 in 40.2 overs.
Caleb Falconer top-scored for England with a scintillating 67-ball 115, leaving a lasting impression on the biggest stage while helping his side reduce the margin of defeat.
This was after Sooryavanshi produced a knock for the ages and raced to the three-figure mark in a mere 55 balls to become the second fastest centurion in this competition.
The triumph, which ensured India's continued dominance in the age-group showpiece, could be attributed to a robust domestic structure, vast talent pool, exposure to advanced coaching, high-quality preparation, and passion for the game among the country's youth.
Sooryavanshi, who shot into the limelight during last year's Indian Premier League, smashed 15 sixes and an equal number of boundaries, registering the highest individual score by any batter in an ICC tournament final.
He set a record for the best individual score in an Under-19 World Cup final. It is also the highest team total in the summit showdown of the tournament.
The opener exploded when it mattered the most, reaching his fifty in just 32 balls and continued in the same vein to torment the English bowlers with his wide range of strokes. His second fifty came off just 23 balls.
As many as 150 off his 175 runs came off boundaries thanks to his 15 sixes and as many fours during a knock in which he literally toyed with the opposition attack and turned the Harare Sports Club into his playground.
He now holds the record for most sixes in a Youth ODI innings, surpassing his own 14 maximums against UAE at ICCA Dubai in December.
Sooryavanshi now also has the fastest 150 (off 71 balls) in U-19 cricket, bettering the 98 balls taken by England's Ben Mayes against Scotland at the same venue earlier in the competition.
To put things into perspective, Vedant Trivedi saw Sooryavanshi celebrate both his 100 and 150 while facing only four balls between the two landmarks.
Such was Sooryavanshi's onslaught that India's run rate was around 10 at the halfway mark and the projected total was 500 at that stage of the game.
Sooryavanshi's Dismissal and India's Final Score
However, the boy from Bihar's Samastipur, after leaving the cricket world awestruck in little less than two hours, got out in the 26th over while trying to scoop Manny Lumsden, only to get his glove for wicketkeeper Thomas Rew to complete a catch down the leg side off a short of a length ball from around the wicket.
Relieved, the England players ran towards Sooryavanshi to congratulate him for playing an innings that one doesn't get to see often in a World Cup final.
Sooryvanshi put on 142 runs in just 19 overs with his skipper Ayush Mhatre, who departed following a 51-ball 53 immediately after bringing up his half-century.
By clearing the ropes repeatedly, Sooryavanshi aggregated a staggering 22 sixes in this edition alone, leapfrogging South Africa's Dewald Brevis, whose record of 18 sixes had stood since 2022.
Sooryavanshi has also become the youngest centurion in the history of the tournament. He was severe on all the English bowlers but the worst sufferers were left-arm spinner Ralphie Albert and off-spinner Farhad Ahmed, clobbering them for 27 and 22 runs respectively.
After Sooryavanshi's dismissal, Abhigyan Kundu (40 off 31 balls), Vedant Trivendi (32 off 36), Vihaan Malhotra (30 off 36) and Kanishk Chouhan (37 off 20) chipped in with useful contributions, and even though England did manage to pull things back a bit, they were not allowed to dictate.
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