Vaibhav Suryavanshi, India’s rising batting star, put up another electrifying display and scored a breathtaking 171 off just 95 balls in India’s opener of the Under-19 Asia Cup against the UAE in Dubai on Friday. The 14-year-old was just one hit away from being one of the youngest double-centurions in Youth ODIs but his fast-paced innings did more than just that; it was the signal of India’s powerful entry into the tournament.
Suryavanshi, when sent in to bat at the ICC Academy Ground, went on a warpath after a defensive start. He hit the bowler for a boundary with his sixth delivery and then unleashed his might against the UAE bowlers, particularly the left-arm fast bowler Ali Asgar whom he targeted with a barrage of sixes. In just 30 balls he was already half a century old and then in 56 balls he was centurion.
The left-handed batsman’s knock was full of incredible shots as he hit 9 fours and 14 sixes, the latter being the most for any player in a match this year, in his 6th century of 2025 and 2nd Youth ODI ton of the year.He received a lifeline on 85 after being dropped at long-off but continued to accelerate, keeping India firmly in control.
Suryavanshi seemed poised for a historic double hundred before he was dismissed attempting a scoop against Uddish Suri, ending a sensational knock on 171.
The young star has been in remarkable form across formats this year. He recently made headlines in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, smashing his maiden T20 century—an unbeaten 108 off 61 balls against Maharashtra—featuring seven fours and seven sixes. He also impressed in the Rising Stars Asia Cup in Doha, scoring 239 runs with a staggering strike rate of 243.87, including a remarkable 32-ball century against the UAE.
Suryavanshi’s rise to stardom was nothing short of a meteorite. He not only scored his first-class match at the age of 12 but also became widely recognized during his first IPL season with the Rajasthan Royals. His 38-ball 101 against Gujarat Titans—now the second-fastest century in IPL history—marked him as the youngest centurion in the history of IPL.
The young prodigy keeps on proving his worth and future prospects by his recent U19 heroics as one of the most promising batting talents in India.
