Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 175: No double, but he shatters records in U19 World Cup final

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced a defining innings on the biggest stage of his young career, delivering one of the most commanding knocks in Under-19 World Cup history. In the final of the ICC Men's Under-19 World Cup at Harare, the 14-year-old left-hander tore into the England attack with a breathtaking 175 off just 80 balls, seizing control of the contest and placing India firmly in the ascendancy. It was the highest individual score by any Indian batter - across senior men's, Under-19 men's, senior women's and Under-19 women's cricket - in a limited-overs ICC 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 had underlined his reliability at the top of the order, but a truly decisive performance had remained elusive.

U19 World Cup Final: IND vs ENG Live Score

India were shaken early by the loss of opener Aaron George in the fourth over, but Vaibhav Sooryavanshi showed no signs of disruption. He settled quickly, allowing the innings to unfold on his terms. Once set, the tempo rose without rashness - crisp drives pierced the infield, pulls were dispatched with authority, and lofted shots cleared the ropes with ease. Each boundary appeared part of a plan rather than a gamble.

He scored his hundred in just 55 balls, ranking among the fastest centuries in Under-19 World Cup history. Instead of easing off, Sooryavanshi pressed harder. The acceleration was ruthless yet controlled, as he needed only 16 more deliveries to surge from 100 to 150. He brought up 151 off 71 balls, with fours and sixes flowing in quick succession—power allied to remarkable clarity and balance as England struggled to stem 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 - Kamran Ghulam vs ENG, 2013

55 balls - Vaibhav Sooryavanshi vs ENG, Today

56 balls - Vaibhav Sooryavanshi vs UAE, 2025

By the time he was dismissed for a majestic 175, Harare Sports Club had been treated to an exhibition of batting that had long since swung the final India's way. His innings was laced with 15 fours and 15 sixes - a blend of brute force and balance that left England searching for answers.

Sooryavanshi rewrote the record books in the 2026 Under-19 World Cup final with a breathtaking 175 off just 80 balls against England, the highest individual score in a U-19 World Cup final. His knock eclipsed Unmukt Chand's composed 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, underlining the evolving tempo and fearless batting approach of modern youth cricket.

Highest scores in 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 sits among the top 10 highest individual scores in Youth ODI cricket. Sooryavanshi is only the second Indian to feature on that list, behind Ambati Rayudu, who struck an unbeaten 177 against England in 2002.

Sooryavanshi also left a deep imprint on the speed charts. His 55-ball hundred is the second-fastest in Under-19 World Cup history, behind Will Malajczuk's 51-ball effort earlier in the competition. Across under-19 ODIs where data is available, he now features repeatedly among the quickest centurions, having also reached the milestone in 52 balls against England in 2025 and 56 balls against the UAE in the same year.

MOST SIXES IN U19 WC HISTORY

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-breaking night for six-hitting. Sooryavanshi struck 15 sixes - the most by any batter in a single Under-19 World Cup innings - surpassing Michael Hill's 12 against Namibia in 2008. In doing so, he also bettered his own Youth ODI record of 14 sixes, set against UAE Under-19s at ICCA Dubai in December.