Young India batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi etched his name into cricketing history with a sensational innings in the ICC U19 World Cup final against England. The 14-year-old left-hander brought up his century in just 55 balls, the fastest hundred ever scored in a U19 World Cup final and the second-fastest overall in the tournament’s history.
Batting under pressure in bouncy conditions, Vaibhav began cautiously, respecting the new ball and assessing the bowlers during the powerplay. Once settled, he unleashed a brutal assault, particularly targeting England spinner Farhan Ahmed with a flurry of towering sixes. His innings featured a remarkable blend of composure and aggression, well beyond his years.
Vaibhav eventually fell for a staggering 175 off just 80 balls, the highest individual score in a U19 World Cup final. His knock made him only the third Indian batter to score a century in a final, alongside Manjot Kalra and Unmukt Chand. The innings also underlined his reputation as a big-match player, coming after a crucial knock in the semi-final.
The historic performance propelled India past the 200-run mark inside 22 overs, an extraordinary feat in a U19 World Cup final, and reaffirmed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s status as one of the brightest young talents in world cricket.
