India’s Vaibhav Suryavanshi made history by smashing a majestic 175 off just 80 deliveries, effectively deciding the Under-19 World Cup final against England. His aggressive approach from the first ball dismantled the English bowling attack, proving why he is considered one of the most exciting young cricket sensation prospects in the world today.
The left-handed opener displayed breathtaking power by clearing the boundary 15 times. His tally of 15 sixes in a single innings set a new benchmark for the tournament, helping him surpass the previous record for the most maximums hit by any player in a single edition of the U19 World Cup.
Suryavanshi reached his blistering century in only 55 balls, maintaining a strike rate that kept England on the defensive throughout. Even after losing his opening partner early, the teenager refused to slow down, accelerating with precision and hitting 15 boundaries alongside his numerous sixes to keep the scoreboard racing at over 10 runs per over.
At just 14 years old, Suryavanshi became the youngest player to score a century in a U19 World Cup final. His performance was described as a stunning display of maturity, as he read the English spinners, including Ralphie Albert, with ease to dominate the middle overs of the championship match, with fans describing him as “too good” on social media.
The Rajasthan Royals starlet’s innings was marked by its incredible batting display, taking him from 100 to 150 in just 16 deliveries. This rapid acceleration ensured India reached the 250-mark within just 25 overs, leaving England’s captain Thomas Rew struggling to find any tactical answer to the relentless onslaught from the young southpaw.
This record-breaking knock solidified his status as the tournament’s standout performer. By accumulating 175 runs, he joined an elite list of Indian batters to score hundreds in global finals, while also moving past major milestones previously held by legends like Virat Kohli in the history of Youth One-Day International cricket.
Beyond the statistics, the innings was notable for its technical, clean striking and composure under the immense pressure of a World Cup final. Suryavanshi’s ability to find gaps and punish good deliveries made the Harare pitch look exceptionally flat, forcing England’s pace attack to constantly alter their lengths without any success in curbing his scoring.
The innings of 175 ended in the 31st over, but by then, India had already secured complete control of the final. His contribution provided the platform for India to pursue a record-extending sixth title, cementing Suryavanshi’s status as a future superstar who can dominate opponents significantly older than himself on the world stage.