Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Record-Breaking Century Secures India U-19 World Cup Triumph
In a spectacular display of power-hitting, teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi cemented his status as a rising star by scoring a blistering 55-ball century in the Under-19 World Cup final against England at Harare Sports Club on Friday. His explosive innings propelled India to a commanding position, ultimately leading to their championship victory.
A Milestone Innings with Multiple Records
Sooryavanshi reached his century in the 20th over with a single off Ralphie Albert's delivery, showcasing remarkable composure under pressure. His innings was decorated with eight boundaries and an equal number of sixes, demonstrating a perfect blend of timing and raw power.
In achieving this feat, Sooryavanshi shattered multiple records:
- He became the batter with the most sixes in an Under-19 men's World Cup innings, surpassing Dewald Brevis' previous record of 18 set in 2022.
- Sooryavanshi also achieved the distinction of being the first batter ever to hit 100 sixes in Youth ODI cricket, a testament to his consistent power-hitting ability.
Crucial Partnership and Team Performance
The young batsman forged a vital 142-run partnership with captain Ayush Mhatre, stabilizing India's innings after early pressure. Their collaboration laid the foundation for India's imposing total before Mhatre was caught in the 19th over off Alex Green's delivery.
Earlier in the day, India skipper Ayush Mhatre won the toss and elected to bat first in the ICC U-19 World Cup final. India fielded an unchanged side from their previous match, while England made one strategic change, replacing Alex French with Alex Green in their lineup.
Tournament Context and Final Showdown
Both teams entered the final with impeccable undefeated records throughout the tournament. India secured their place by defeating Asian counterparts Afghanistan by seven wickets in the semifinal, while England overcame traditional rivals Australia by 27 runs in their semifinal clash.
The final featured the following playing elevens:
India U19 Playing 11: Aaron George, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ayush Mhatre (c), Vihaan Malhotra, Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (w), RS Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan Patel, Henil Patel, Deepesh Devendran.
England U19 Playing 11: Ben Dawkins, Joseph Moores, Ben Mayes, Thomas Rew (w/c), Caleb Falconer, Ralphie Albert, Farhan Ahmed, Sebastian Morgan, James Minto, Manny Lumsden, Alex Green.
This victory marks another significant achievement for India's youth cricket development program, continuing their legacy of producing world-class talent at the Under-19 level. Sooryavanshi's record-breaking performance will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most dominant individual displays in Youth World Cup history.
