Sky is the Limit! Can 14-Year-Old Vaibhav Suryavanshi Break a 12-Year-Old Record?
Indian cricket’s talent pipeline has always been rich, but every now and then, a young prodigy arrives who makes even seasoned fans sit up and take notice. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the 14-year-old Indian U-19 opener, is one such phenom. In the ongoing Youth ODI series against England U-19, the teenager has not only lit up English grounds but also etched his name among some of the finest young cricketers India has ever produced.
In the third Youth ODI, Suryavanshi delivered a jaw-dropping performance, smashing 86 runs off just 31 balls, including nine sixes, at a mind-boggling strike rate of 277.41. His 50 came in just 20 balls, making it one of the fastest by an Indian in U-19 ODIs. With scores of 48 (19), 45 (34), and now 86 (31), he is currently the leading run-scorer for India in the series.
Surpassing Legends
In the process, Suryavanshi has already outstripped legends like Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina in terms of strike rate for 50+ scores in U-19 cricket.
Yuvraj Singh scored a 25-ball 58 against Australia U-19 in 2000, with a strike rate of 232.
Suresh Raina hammered a 38-ball 90 against Scotland U-19 in 2004, at a strike rate of 236.84.
Now, Vaibhav Suryavanshi has gone even better with his 86 off 31 at 277.41, placing him second only to Rishabh Pant, who smashed 78 off 37 balls at a strike rate of 325 against Nepal U-19 in 2016.
Eyes on History: What Records Could Fall Next?
Suryavanshi is not just racking up runs; he is knocking on the door of history. If he continues this form and scores a century in the next Youth ODI, he could achieve two massive milestones:
Youngest Indian to score a Youth ODI century
Currently held by Sarfaraz Khan, who scored a hundred aged 15 years and 338 days in 2013.
Suryavanshi, at 14, has the opportunity to smash that record by nearly two years.
Youngest player in the world to score a Youth ODI century
The record is held by Bangladesh’s Najmul Hossain Shanto, who scored a century at 14 years and 241 days against Sri Lanka U-19 in 2013.
If Suryavanshi reaches three figures before crossing that age mark, he’ll become the youngest centurion in Youth ODI history.
The Fastest Century Dream?
There’s more. If Vaibhav goes berserk again, he could even challenge the record for the fastest Youth ODI century:
Kamran Ghulam (Pakistan): 53-ball century vs. England U-19 (2013) – world record
Raj Angad Bawa (India): 69-ball century vs. Uganda U-19 (2022) – Indian record
Given his recent 86 off 31, nothing seems out of reach for this Mumbai-based batting sensation.
From IPL Sparks to International Roar
This is not the first time Vaibhav has made headlines. Earlier this year, he turned heads during IPL trials and training camps, with some scouts reportedly labeling him a “once-in-a-generation” talent. Now, with his performances on English soil, he’s proving that the hype is real.
Final Word: A Star in the Making
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s name is now being spoken in the same breath as Indian greats. But more than comparisons, what stands out is his fearless approach, natural timing, and maturity beyond his years. If he continues on this trajectory, Indian cricket could be witnessing the rise of its next superstar.
As records tremble and scoreboards light up, one thing is clear — for Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the sky is not the limit. It’s just the beginning.
