India's Under-19 cricket captain, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, sent a thunderous warning to rivals ahead of the upcoming World Cup with a blistering maiden century as skipper against South Africa. The 14-year-old prodigy, standing in for the injured Ayush Mhatre, played a captain's knock in the third and final Youth ODI at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Wednesday, showcasing the devastating form that makes him a tournament favourite.
A Captain's Knock for the Ages
Electing to field first, the South African colts had no answer to Sooryavanshi's onslaught. Forging a monumental opening partnership of 227 runs with Aaron George, the young captain from Samastipur feasted on the bowling attack. He reached his century in just 63 deliveries, a knock decorated with eight sixes and six fours. This was not just any hundred; it was a historic one that saw him overhaul a record set by modern batting great Virat Kohli. With this innings, Sooryavanshi's Youth ODI run tally climbed to 973, surpassing Kohli's career tally of 978 runs, and he achieved this feat in eight fewer innings.
Record-Breaking Feats and Jaw-Dropping Numbers
This century was Sooryavanshi's third in just 17 Youth ODI innings, placing him in an elite group of Indian batters. He now sits alongside legends like Shikhar Dhawan, who also has three centuries, and is only behind Unmukt Chand (5) and Shubman Gill (4). More impressively, all three of his hundreds have come in under 60 balls, making him the only batter with multiple sub-60-ball centuries in Youth ODIs. He holds the record for the fastest century in the format—a 52-ball blast against England U19 last year.
His innings of 127 also featured a total of 10 sixes, meaning he has hammered an astonishing 20 maximums in his last two outings at the same venue. His eventual score fell just one run short of Vijay Zol's 128, the second-highest score by an Indian captain in Youth ODIs. The opening stand of 227 with George also set a new national record for the highest first-wicket partnership at this level.
World Cup Ambitions and Leadership Role
With an average nearing 50, Sooryavanshi is on the cusp of breaking the 1000-run barrier, a milestone he could easily achieve during the Under-19 World Cup. India begins its campaign against the USA at Queen Sports Park in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, followed by group matches against Bangladesh and New Zealand. Should regular captain Ayush Mhatre not recover in time, Sooryavanshi is poised to lead the defending champions, bringing his explosive form and newfound leadership experience to the global stage. His performance has unequivocally marked him as one of the hottest properties to watch in the tournament.
