Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s explosive innings powered India to a commanding position, leaving fans, experts, and former legends in awe of the teenage sensation.
BY PC Bureau
February 6, 2026: Fourteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced one of the greatest innings in Under-19 World Cup history, smashing a breathtaking 175 off just 80 balls to power India into a commanding position in the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup final against England at the Harare Sports Club on Friday.
The astonishing knock — the highest individual score by any Indian batter in an ICC limited-overs final across all age groups and genders — transformed the championship match into a one-sided contest and firmly announced Sooryavanshi’s arrival on the global stage.
Early Setback, Stunning Response
India were jolted early by the dismissal of opener Aaron George in the fourth over, but the left-handed Sooryavanshi showed remarkable composure for his age. He settled quickly, assessed conditions with maturity, and then launched a relentless assault on the England bowling attack.
Driving fluently through the covers, pulling with authority, and clearing the ropes with effortless power, Sooryavanshi combined elegance with brute force. His strokeplay was measured rather than reckless, each boundary appearing part of a calculated strategy rather than blind aggression.
Record-Breaking Acceleration
Sooryavanshi reached his century in just 55 balls, making it one of the fastest hundreds in Under-19 World Cup history. Instead of easing off, he accelerated further, racing from 100 to 150 in a mere 16 deliveries, underlining his dominance.
He brought up 151 off 71 balls, with boundaries flowing freely as England’s bowlers struggled for answers. By the time he was dismissed for 175, India had seized total control of the final.
His innings featured 15 fours and 15 sixes, setting a new record for most sixes in a single Under-19 World Cup innings.
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Rewriting the Record Books
Sooryavanshi’s 175 is now the highest individual score in an Under-19 World Cup final, eclipsing:
Unmukt Chand’s 111 vs Australia (2012 final)
Brett Williams’ 108 vs Pakistan (1998 final)
The knock also ranks among the top 10 highest individual scores in Youth ODI history, making Sooryavanshi only the second Indian to achieve the feat after Ambati Rayudu’s unbeaten 177 in 2002.
His 55-ball century is the second-fastest in Under-19 World Cup history, behind Will Malajczuk’s 51-ball hundred earlier in the same tournament.
Tournament of Consistency, Sealed With Brilliance
Sooryavanshi’s final masterpiece capped a tournament built on consistency. Prior to the final, his scores read: 2, 72, 40, 52, 30, and 68, highlighting his reliability at the top of the order.
While he had anchored multiple innings, a truly defining knock had eluded him — until the biggest match of all.
A Star Is Born
At just 14, Sooryavanshi’s fearless strokeplay, clarity of thought, and technical excellence have drawn comparisons with India’s finest batting prodigies.
Cricketing experts described the innings as “once-in-a-generation”, praising the teenager’s temperament, balance, and shot selection under intense final-match pressure.
As India closed in on Under-19 World Cup glory, one conclusion stood unmistakably clear:
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is no longer just a prodigy — he is a phenomenon.
