A 14-year-old Indian batsman made history on Wednesday with a sensational performance in the Under-19 ODI match against England. He smashed a half-century in just 20 balls, recording the second-fastest half-century in an Under-19 ODI for India.
Sports News: The future of Indian cricket is emerging with another shining star, and his name is — Vaibhav Suryavanshi. At just 14 years old, he taught the England Under-19 team's bowlers a lesson that will be remembered for a long time. In the third ODI of the 5-match series played on Wednesday, Suryavanshi scored 86 runs off 31 balls, not only leading the team to victory but also breaking several records.
In the rain-affected match, England, batting first, scored 268 runs for the loss of 6 wickets. England captain Thomas Rew scored an unbeaten 76 runs off 44 balls, and opener BJ Dawkins played an innings of 62 runs. In response, the Indian team chased down the target and won the match in the 35th over.
Half-century in just 20 balls
The most remarkable aspect of Vaibhav Suryavanshi's innings was his explosive batting. He completed his half-century in just 20 balls and became the second-fastest batsman to score a half-century for the Indian Under-19 team. Suryavanshi scored a total of 86 runs with the help of 6 fours and 9 towering sixes, which left the England bowlers stunned.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi also set a new record for the Indian Under-19 team by hitting 9 sixes in an innings. Earlier, Mandeep Singh had hit 8 sixes against Australia in 2009. Suryavanshi broke this record and presented a brilliant example of his aggressive batting.
Consistent outstanding performance in the series
This innings by Suryavanshi is not just a one-day wonder. He had also scored 48 runs off 19 balls in the first ODI and led India to victory. In the second ODI, he scored 45 runs off 34 balls, although India lost that match by one wicket, and the series was tied at 1-1. In the third match, this young batsman showed his true brilliance and led the team to a 4-wicket victory, giving the team a 2-1 lead in the series.
Apart from Vaibhav Suryavanshi, other players of the Indian team also made excellent contributions. Kanishk Chauhan scored an unbeaten 43 runs off 42 balls and also took 3 crucial wickets, while Vihan Malhotra played a quick innings of 46 runs off 34 balls. With their contributions, India achieved the target of 269 runs in just 35 overs.
Coach and fans elated
The coach of the Indian Under-19 team said after the match, "Vaibhav's batting has amazing composure and aggression. Both his technique and courage are commendable. This player will become a big name in Indian cricket in the coming days." As soon as the match ended, a storm of praise for Vaibhav also erupted on social media. Many veteran players praised him and hoped for a chance in the senior team as well. With this victory, India has taken a 2-1 lead in the 5-match series.
