Vaibhav Suryavanshi Blasts 95-Ball 171 in Under-19 Asia Cup Opener
India’s teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi produced another extraordinary innings on Friday, smashing a breathtaking 171 off just 95 balls in the Under-19 Asia Cup opener against the UAE. The innings fell just six runs short of Ambati Rayudu’s India youth ODI record of 177, set in 2002.
Suryavanshi, who is yet to turn 15, lit up the tournament with nine fours and 14 sixes, dominating the UAE attack before being bowled while attempting a paddle sweep in the 33rd over. Powered by his brilliance, India piled up 433 for 6 after being asked to bat.
A year of record-breaking performances
The knock continues what has been a sensational rise for one of India’s most talked-about young talents.
Just last month, Suryavanshi hammered a 42-ball 144 against UAE in the Rising Stars Asia Cup in Doha — the joint-third-fastest century by an Indian in men’s T20s and the joint-sixth-fastest in all men’s T20 cricket. He reached that hundred in just 32 balls.
He also made headlines in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, smashing an unbeaten 108 off 61 balls to become the youngest century-maker in the tournament’s history.
Youngest IPL centurion
Suryavanshi’s rapid ascent began in 2025, when he became the youngest player ever picked in an IPL auction at age 13. Months later, he delivered on the hype, blasting 101 off 38 balls for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans to become the youngest centurion in IPL history.
He featured in seven games in IPL 2025 as an opener, scoring 252 runs at a strike rate of 206.55, cementing his status as a prodigious T20 talent.
Dominance at Under-19 level
Following the IPL, Suryavanshi toured England and Australia with the India Under-19 squad. He struck a 78-ball century in Brisbane and finished as the second-highest run-scorer in the multi-day series against Australia Under-19s, with 133 runs in three innings as India claimed a 2–0 win.
Earlier in the year, he had blasted 355 runs at a strike rate of 174.01 in one-dayers against England Under-19s.
A certainty for the 2026 Under-19 World Cup
His Asia Cup heroics, combined with a year full of record-shattering performances, all but confirm Suryavanshi’s place in India’s squad for next month’s Under-19 World Cup in Namibia and Zimbabwe.