Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced a crucial innings on the biggest stage of his young career, producing one of the most impressive knocks in the history of the U19 World Cup. In the final of the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup in Harare, the 14-year-old left-hander burst into England’s attack with a breathtaking 175 off just 80 balls, taking control of the match and putting India firmly in the lead. It was the highest individual score by any Indian batsman – in senior men’s, men’s under-19, women’s senior and women’s under-19 cricket – in an ICC limited-overs final.
The innings marked the culmination of a tournament built on consistency rather than spectacle for Sooryavanshi. Scores of 2, 72, 40, 52, 30 and 68 underlined his reliability at the top of the order, but a truly decisive performance remained elusive.
U19 World Cup Final: Live Results IND vs ENG
India were rocked early by the loss of opener Aaron George in the fourth over, but Vaibhav Sooryavanshi showed no signs of being let down. He quickly settled in and allowed the shift to unfold on his terms. Once set, the tempo picked up without haste – crisp shots ripping through the infield, pulls sent with authority and lofted shots clearing the ropes with ease. Each boundary seemed more part of a plan than a gamble.
He scored his hundred in just 55 ballswhich ranks among the fastest centuries in U19 World Cup history. Instead of relaxing, Sooryavanshi pushed even harder. The acceleration was relentless but controlled as he needed just 16 more deliveries to go from 100 to 150. He brought up 151 from 71 balls, with fours and sixes flowing in quick succession – power coupled with remarkable clarity and poise as England sought to arrest the momentum.
Fastest hundreds in youth ODIs
42 balls – Sameer Minhas vs ZIM, 2026
51 balls – Will Malajczuk vs JPN, 2026
52 balls – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi vs ENG, 2025
53 balls – You can
55 balls – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi vs ENG, today
56 balls – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi vs UAE, 2025
By the time he was dismissed for a majestic 175, the Harare Sports Club were treated to a batting exhibition that had long since headed for India. His innings was laced with 15 fours and 15 sixes – a blend of raw power and balance that left England scrambling for answers.
Sooryavanshi rewrote the record books in the 2026 U19 World Cup final with a breathtaking 175 off just 80 balls against England, the highest individual score in an U19 World Cup final. His knock was eclipsed by Unmukt Chand’s 111 off 130 balls against Australia in the 2012 final and Brett Williams’ 108 off 134 balls for Australia against Pakistan in the 1998 title clash, underscoring the evolving pace and fearless batting approach of modern youth cricket.
Highest score in the U19 World Cup final
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi vs England – 175 in 80 balls in 2026
Unmukt Chand vs Australia – 111 in 130 balls in 2012
Brett Williams vs Pakistan – 108 in 134 balls in 1998
The knock now ranks among the top 10 individual scores in Youth ODI cricket. Sooryavanshi is only the second Indian to appear on this list after Ambati Rayudu who made an unbeaten 177 against England in 2002.
Sooryavanshi also left a deep imprint on the speed charts. His hundred off 55 balls is the second fastest in U19 World Cup history, behind Will Malajczuk’s 51-ball effort earlier in the competition. Among Under-19 ODIs where data is available, he now repeatedly appears among the fastest centurions, having also reached the milestone of 52 balls against England in 2025 and 56 balls against the UAE in the same year.
THE MOST SIXES IN THE HISTORY OF THE U19 WC
15* – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (IND) vs. ENG, Harare, 2026
12 – Michael Hill (AUS) vs. NAM, Penang, 2008
11 – Craig Simmons (AUS) vs KEN, Dunedin, 2002
The final was also a record six-hit night. Sooryavanshi hit 15 sixes – the most by any batsman in a single innings at the Under-19 World Cup – surpassing Michael Hill’s 12 against Namibia in 2008. In doing so, he also bettered his own Youth ODI record of 14 sixes, which he set against the UAE Under-19s at the ICCA Dubai in December.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
February 6, 2026
