With a month till the Under-19 World Cup, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi illustrated why he may be every bowler's nightmare in the event. On Friday, the 14-year-old hammered a 54-ball century in India's first Under-19 Asia Cup encounter against the UAE in Dubai.
Sooryavanshi pursued his love of batting against the UAE. Sooryavanshi recently blasted 144 at the Emerging Nations Asia Cup.
Sooryavanshi fell short of breaking his own world record for the fastest century in Under-19 cricket, which he set not long ago with 52 deliveries. Sooryavanshi somberly celebrated his 100, looking to the heavens and folding his hands.
India U19 had lost Ayush Mhatre for four runs, and then Sooryavanshi and Aaron George (69) rebuilt the Indian innings, with 212 runs for the second wicket. Sooryavanshi altered gears after reaching 100, scoring 71 runs in the next 39 balls. Sooryavanshi was removed for 171 runs in 95 balls, with 9 fours and 14 sixes, at a strike rate of 180.
The 14-year-old Sooryavanshi’s previous best score in U-19 ODIs was 143 against England in July this year.
Sooryavanshi’s effort is the ninth-highest score by a batter in a men’s U-19 ODI. The highest-ever score in the format is 215, made by South Africa’s Jorich Van Schalkwyk against Zimbabwe in July 2025.
The highest score by an Indian in U19 ODIs is by Ambati Rayudu, who made 177* against England in 2002.
