New Delhi: Vaibhav Suryavanshi delivered a remarkable performance in age-group cricket as India commenced their U-19 Asia Cup campaign in Dubai with a commanding victory over the United Arab Emirates on December 12. Playing at the ICC Cricket Academy, the 14-year-old accomplished an impressive century that propelled India to an extraordinary total of 433 runs.
Suryavanshi reached his hundred in stunning fashion, accomplishing the milestone in just 56 deliveries. He concluded his innings with a total of 171 runs off 95 balls, featuring 14 sixes. Upon reaching the century, he acknowledged the achievement with folded hands. However, it is important to note that this performance will not be included in official Youth ODI records.
The classification rules of the tournament explain this omission. U-19 Asia Cup matches receive Youth ODI status only when both teams are from Test-playing nations. Since the UAE is not a Test-playing nation, the match does not qualify, regardless of the performance recorded. Consequently, Suryavanshi’s innings will be documented only among his exceptional games for the Indian U-19 team, rather than in formal Youth ODI statistics.
Had the match been sanctioned as an official game, Suryavanshi’s century would have ranked as the third-fastest Youth ODI century and the second-highest individual score by an Indian at that level. Additionally, his 14 sixes would have set a world record in Youth ODIs. Only fixtures in the U-19 World Cups that involve associate nations can be recognized as official Youth ODIs, which is why India’s forthcoming match against the USA on January 15 in Bulawayo will qualify, while the Asia Cup match against Malaysia on December 16 will not.
Suryavanshi’s talent is not new; earlier this year, he made headlines by scoring a Youth ODI century against England U-19 in Worcester, achieving the landmark in just 52 balls. He has also registered three half-centuries in 50-over youth cricket, alongside two centuries and a fifty in Youth Tests.
Beyond junior cricket, the teenager has already made an impact in senior T20 leagues, recording three centuries, including one during the 2025 IPL for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings, another for India in the Rising Stars Asia Cup against the UAE, and one for Bihar in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy against Maharashtra.
