Vaibhav Sooryavanshi showcased an extraordinary performance in the U-19 Asia Cup match against UAE in Dubai on Wednesday, scoring 171 runs off just 95 balls. His remarkable innings helped India post a massive total of 433/6 in their allocated 50 overs.The 14-year-old left-handed batsman from Bihar set a new world record in U-19 cricket by hitting fourteen sixes and nine fours during his innings.
During the 32nd over of India’s innings, when Sooryavanshi was approaching his century, an interesting exchange occurred between him and UAE wicketkeeper Saleh Amin.“Come on boys. 90’s curse. 90’s curse,” Amin was heard saying on the stump mic.“Tere saath selfie loon? (Wanna take selfie with me?)” Sooryavanshi responded to the UAE wicketkeeper.When asked about the incident later, Sooryavanshi responded confidently: “Main Bihar se hoon. Peeth peeche jo bhi baatein hoti hain, usse mujhko farak nahi padta.” (I am from Bihar. What is said behind my back does not bother me.)The match began with UAE captain Yayin Rai winning the toss and asking India to bat first. India faced an early setback when captain Ayush Mhatre was dismissed for just four runs in the third over.Sooryavanshi then joined forces with Aaron George at the crease. The young batsman initially played with caution before accelerating his innings, reaching his fifty in just 30 balls.His powerful hitting display earned him a new tournament record for most sixes in a single innings in the U-19 Asia Cup. He surpassed the previous record of ten sixes set by Afghanistan’s Darwish Rasooli in 2017.Sooryavanshi continued his aggressive batting, reaching his century in 56 balls. He maintained his momentum to score 150 runs in 84 balls before being run out after scoring 171 runs. His innings came at an impressive strike rate of 180.The innings now stands as the second-highest score by an Indian in Youth ODI cricket. The record is still held by Ambati Rayudu, who scored an unbeaten 177 against England U-19 in 2002.The Indian innings was well supported by Aaron George and Vihaan Malhotra, who both scored 69 runs each. Vedant Trivedi contributed 38 runs, while Abhigyan Kundu and Kanishk Chouhan added 32 and 28 runs, respectively. The combined effort helped India set an enormous target of 434 runs for the UAE team.UAE’s response resulted in a score of 199/7 in their allocated 50 overs. Their innings was highlighted by Uddish Suri’s unbeaten 78 and Prithvi Madhu’s fifty. India U19 secured a dominant 234-run win.India U19 will face their next challenge against Pakistan U19 in a group stage match on Sunday.
