After Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s hundred in the Under-19 World Cup final against England, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor advocated for the batsman’s speedy move to the senior Indian side. Commenting on X, Tharoor said that Vaibhav is a generational talent and drew parallels with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
Sachin, in the late eighties, was himself quickly included in the Indian team after showing extraordinary potential at the Mumbai maidans. On the other hand, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi rose to fame in age-group cricket before making a spectacular announcement with a remarkable debut season in 2025 in the Indian Premier League.
“Vaibhav Sooryavanshi deserves to be promoted to higher honors urgently. The last time we had a 14-year-old genius in the wicket was Sachin Tendulkar. And we didn’t keep him waiting,” Tharoor wrote on X, reacting to an ad featuring the young batsman.
U19 Final: Vaibhav’s superhuman innings
Fourteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made it to the U-19 World Cup final for India. Batting on a rough Harare pitch, Vaibhav weathered the early spells of England’s fast bowlers before responding with some breathtaking firework of his own.
The left-hander took to England’s spinners at the end of the first over and kept up the pace for the rest of his innings. He brought up his century in just 55 balls and soon rose to 175 from 80 deliveries before finally being dismissed.
Vaibhav’s extraordinary knock guided India to a record total of 411 in the U-19 World Cup final, a target that the Ayush Mhatre-led team successfully defended.
Pressure? What pressure.
The 14-year-old hitting 175 in the World Cup final is pure sporting brilliance. History in motion from our U19 champion, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Absolutely fabulous!#U19 World Cup pic.twitter.com/sxid9Q5xda— jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@jm_scindia) February 6, 2026
Sachin Tendulkar is fast tracking Team India
Sachin Tendulkar’s rise to the Indian national team remains one of the most remarkable fast tracks in the history of cricket. Born in 1973, Tendulkar was just 16 when he was selected for India’s 1989 tour of Pakistan, an age when most cricketers are still finding their feet in junior cricket. What set him apart was not just his prodigious talent, but an extraordinary composure that convinced the selectors that he was ready for the highest level.
Tendulkar’s performances in school and club cricket in Mumbai could not be ignored. His record-breaking partnership with Vinod Kambli at school level had already made headlines, while consistent performances in the Ranji Trophy underlined that he was much more than a precocious teenager. India’s selectors, looking for fearlessness and technique at the top of the order, took a bold call to introduce him early.
On his debut in Karachi, Tendulkar faced a formidable Pakistan attack with Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. Rather than being overwhelmed, he displayed bravery and poise, qualities that defined his career. This early exposure quickly hardened him and accelerated his development.
Fast-tracking Tendulkar proved transformative for Indian cricket. He was entrusted with the responsibility at a young age and became the cornerstone of the team’s batting, carrying the weight of expectations for more than two decades.
The U19 heroes celebrated their homecoming
The under-19 World Cup winning team were received with immense fanfare upon their return home. Captain Ayush Mhatre, Henil Patel and of course Vaibhav Sooryavanshi were hailed as heroes in their hometowns.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced a prize money of Rs 7.5 million for the winner. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia praised the team’s dominant campaign and said the board was proud of how the young side performed under pressure on the biggest stage.
“The whole country and BCCI are proud of our U-19 side for winning the 2026 U-19 World Cup. The way our team beat England in the final and remained unbeaten throughout the tournament makes us all extremely proud. BCCI will reward the team with a cash prize of Rs 7.5 million,” Saikia said.
The U19 World Cup was India’s 6th overall trophy in the competition.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
February 9, 2026