Harare: India’s teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi delivered a breathtaking performance on the grand stage, hammering the second-fastest century in ICC U19 World Cup history during the final against England at the Harare Sports Club on Friday.
The 14-year-old reached his century in just 55 balls, an explosive knock studded with six fours and six sixes. With this feat, he surpassed Pakistan’s Qasim Akram, who had scored a 63-ball hundred in 2022. The record for the fastest U19 World Cup century remains with Australia’s Will Malajczuk, who scored a 51-ball ton earlier in the tournament.
Sooryavanshi also etched his name in Indian cricket history by becoming the fastest Indian centurion in U19 World Cup history, breaking Raj Angad Bawa’s 69-ball record set in 2022. Additionally, he became only the third Indian batter to score a century in a U19 World Cup final.
The young Bihar batter continued his assault, setting another milestone by smashing 15 sixes in the innings — the most in a Youth ODI and U19 World Cup innings, surpassing his own previous record of 14 sixes against UAE U19 in Dubai last December.
He raced to 150 off just 171 balls, marking the fastest 150 in U19 cricket history, eclipsing England’s Ben Mayes, who had reached the mark in 98 balls earlier in the tournament at the same venue.
Sooryavanshi built crucial partnerships, adding 142 runs for the second wicket with captain Ayush Mhatre (53) and an 89-run stand with Vedant Trivedi, before his electrifying innings of 175 off 80 balls ended in the 26th over.
At the time of reporting, India were strongly placed at 275 for 3 in 29 overs, with Vihaan Malhotra (10)* and Vedant Trivedi (22)* at the crease.
Sooryavanshi has been India’s standout performer in the tournament, accumulating 264 runs at an average of 44 and a strike rate of 147.49. Earlier this year, he also captained the Indian U19 side to a 3-0 Youth ODI series sweep in South Africa, leading from the front in his first assignment as junior national team skipper.
The innings further underlined his growing reputation as one of the most exciting young talents in world cricket.