While most cricket fans were busy talking about the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, starting from tomorrow (February 7), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi suddenly grabbed all the attention with a sensational 175-run innings in the final of the U-19 World Cup on February 6 at the Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe against England.
On the biggest stage of U-19 cricket, the Bihar-born opener delivered what is now officially considered the greatest knock in U 19 cricket history. The left-handed batter opened the innings and played with confidence and freedom, dominating the opposition bowlers from the start. During this unforgettable knock, Vaibhav broke several long-standing records, once again showing why he is seen as a once-in-a-generation talent.
14-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who just refreshed the record book
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 14, needed only 80 balls to score his massive 175 runs, sending the ball to the boundary 30 times with 15 fours and 15 sixes. Thanks to this incredible effort, his strike rate stood at 218.75. It is necessary to remember that the batter becomes India’s highest run scorer in all Youth ODI cricket. He has batted 25 times.
His innings featured a remarkable 15 sixes, which set a new all-time record in U19 World Cup cricket. Before this, Australia’s Michael Hill held the record for the most sixes in a U19 World Cup innings with 12.
Looking at Youth ODI cricket overall, Sooryavanshi even broke his own record during the match. When he hit his 15th six of the innings, he went past his previous best of 14 sixes, which he had scored against the UAE U19 at ICCA Dubai in December.
Most sixes in a U19 WC innings::
15* – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (IND) vs ENG, Harare, 2026
12 – Michael Hill (AUS) vs NAM, Penang, 2008
11 – Craig Simmons (AUS) vs. KEN, Dunedin, 2002
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Joining The Elite List Of Final Heroes
There have only been a few batters who managed to score centuries in U19 World Cup finals. Former India Under 19 captain Unmukt Chand was one of the players who had achieved a hundred-plus score in a summit clash. Vaibhav went past Unmukt as well, climbing to the top of the record charts with his extraordinary innings.
Hundreds in U19 WC finals::
175 – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (IND) vs ENG, Harare, 2026
111* – Unmukt Chand (IND) vs AUS, Townsville, 2012
108 – Brett Williams (AUS) vs. PAK, Adelaide, 1988
107 – Stephen Peters (ENG) vs NZ, Johannesburg, 1998
101* – Manjot Kalra (IND) vs AUS, Mount Maunganui, 2018
100* – Jarrad Burke (AUS) vs SA, Lincoln, 2002
One Of The Fastest Hundreds Of The Tournament
The current U-19 World Cup has seen some amazing batting performances from players across different countries. Sooryavanshi reached his century in only 55 balls against England, showing incredible power and confidence. However, one Australian batter managed to score even faster during the tournament. Australia’s Will Malajczuk reached the landmark in just 51 balls, setting another impressive record.
Fastest U19 WC hundreds (by balls faced):
51 – Will Malajczuk (AUS) vs. Japan, Windhoek, 2026
55 – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (IND) vs ENG, Harare, 2026
63 – Qasim Akram (PAK) vs SL, North Sound, 2022
65 – Ben Mayes (ENG) vs SCOT, Harare, 2026
69 – Raj Bawa (IND) vs Uganda, Tarouba, 2022
Six Hitting Machine Leaves Everyone Behind
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s love for big hits has become one of his biggest strengths. During the tournament, the left-handed batter smashed a total of 30 sixes, moving ahead of several well-known players such as Dewald Brevis from South Africa, Finn Allen from New Zealand, and Nicholas Pooran from the West Indies in the record charts.
Most sixes in the U19 World Cup:
30 – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in 2026
18 – Dewald Brevis in 2022
18 – Finn Allen across 2016 and 2018
15 – Jack Burnham in 2016
14 – Michael Hill in 2008
14 – Nicholas Pooran in 2014
More Records Fall In Historic Final
A few other records Sooryavanshi broke in the U-19 World Cup Final:
Sooryavanshi now has the fastest U19 150 off 71 balls (where known), bettering the 98 balls taken by Ben Mayes (ENG) vs SCOT at the same venue earlier in the competition.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi becomes the first batter to smash 100 sixes in Youth ODI history in the U19 World Cup final. The next best has 55.
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