On a day where the history books were rewritten with every swing of the bat, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi produced the greatest individual performance in Under-19 World Cup history. His breath-taking 175 off just 80 balls propelled India to a mammoth 411/9 in the 2026 final at Harare, leaving England with the task of attempting the highest run-chase in Youth ODI history.
From the first ball, Suryavanshi signalled his intent. While his opening partner Aaron George fell early for 9, Suryavanshi ignored the early-morning moisture and unleashed a "leather hunt" that left the English attack shell-shocked.
50 off 32 balls
100 off 55 balls (Third-fastest ton in Youth ODIs)
150 off 71 balls (Just 16 balls for his third fifty)
His 175 surpassed Unmukt Chand’s 111* (2012) for the highest score in a U19 final and Raj Bawa’s 162* for the highest score by an Indian in the tournament's history.
He finished the tournament with 30 sixes, shattering Dewald Brevis’ previous record of 22.
While Suryavanshi was the protagonist, the middle and lower order ensured the momentum never dipped.
Ayush Mhatre (53 off 51): The skipper provided a steadying hand in a 100-plus run stand before falling to Alex Green.
Lower-Order: Abhigyan Kundu (40) and Kanishk Chouhan (six off the final ball) pushed India past the 400-mark, a psychological barrier that makes the English chase nearly impossible.
England faces a daunting target of 412. To win their first title since 1998, they must execute the highest-ever chase in Youth ODIs. Sebastian Morgan (3/xx) and James Minto were the pick of the bowlers, but they will need their batters to produce something even more spectacular than Suryavanshi to stay in the game.
