Sooryavanshi powers India to 6th U-19 WC title

India stormed to their record-extending sixth ICC U-19 World Cup title with a commanding 100-run victory over England in the final at Harare on Friday, powered by a once-in-a-generation innings from 14-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Opting to bowl first, England were left shell-shocked as Sooryavanshi unleashed a breathtaking assault, scoring 175 runs off just 80 balls. His innings, laced with 15 sixes and 15 fours, set multiple records, including the highest individual score in a U-19 World Cup final and the most sixes in a Youth ODI innings. India posted a mammoth 411 for 9, the highest team total in a tournament final.
Sooryavanshi’s knock was a masterclass in controlled aggression. He reached his fifty in 32 balls, his century in 55, and raced to 150 in just 71 deliveries, surpassing England’s Ben Mayes’ previous record of 98 balls. Remarkably, he celebrated his 100 and 150 within the space of four deliveries. By the time he was dismissed in the 26th over, attempting a scoop shot off Manny Lumsden, India’s run rate hovered around 10, and the projected score had touched 500.
The young opener from Samastipur, Bihar, has now become the youngest centurion in U-19 World Cup history. His exploits in Harare added to his growing reputation, having already smashed 14 sixes against UAE in December. With 22 sixes in this edition, he eclipsed South Africa’s Dewald Brevis’ record of 18 set in 2022. Sooryavanshi’s fireworks were complemented by skipper Ayush Mhatre, who contributed a steady 53 off 51 balls in a 142-run partnership. Later, Abhigyan Kundu (40), Vedant Trivedi (32), Vihaan Malhotra (30), and Kanishk Chouhan (37 off 20) chipped in with valuable cameos to ensure India maintained momentum even after the dismissal of their talisman.
England’s bowlers bore the brunt of Sooryavanshi’s onslaught. Lumsden conceded 81 runs in eight overs, while Sebastian Morgan leaked 74 in nine. Spinners Ralphie Albert and Farhad Ahmed were also punished, giving away 27 and 22 runs respectively in single overs.
Chasing 412, England showed resilience but were never truly in contention. Caleb Falconer stood out with a dazzling 115 off 67 balls, displaying grit and flair against India’s disciplined attack. His innings reduced the margin of defeat and provided some consolation for England, who were bowled out for 311 in 40.2 overs. India’s bowlers, though overshadowed by Sooryavanshi’s heroics, delivered collectively to seal the victory. The triumph underscored India’s dominance in age-group cricket, built on a robust domestic structure, advanced coaching, and a vast talent pool.
This victory evoked memories of past U-19 successes featuring future stars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Yet, the ruthlessness of this team, led by Mhatre and spearheaded by Sooryavanshi, carved a distinct identity.
Brief Scores
India 411/9 in 50 overs (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 175, Ayush Mahatre 53; James Minto 3/63, Sebastian Morgan 2/74).
England 311 all out in 40.2 overs (Caleb Falconer 115, Ben Dawkins 66; RS Ambrish 3/56, Deepesh Devendran 2/64)