14-year-old sensation: Suryavanshi’s record-breaking century puts India in control of U19 Final

Harare: Indian teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi produced a career-defining performance on Friday, smashing a blistering century in the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup final to put India in a commanding position against England.

The 14-year-old left-hander reached his triple-digit milestone in just 55 balls, marking the fastest century ever recorded in an Under-19 World Cup final. During his onslaught at the Harare Sports Club, Suryavanshi also shattered the world record for the most sixes in a single edition of the tournament, becoming the first player to hit 25 maximums in one campaign.

Prodigy on a Rampage

After India captain Ayush Mhatre won the toss and elected to bat, Suryavanshi took immediate control of the summit clash. Despite the early loss of opener Aaron George (9), the young prodigy systematically dismantled the English bowling attack with a mix of brute force and clinical timing.

• The Record Strike: Suryavanshi entered the final needing a handful of maximums to break the record. He officially moved past South Africa’s Dewald Brevis (18 sixes in 2022) early in his innings, eventually taking his tournament tally to 25.
• Rapid Partnership: Alongside Mhatre (53), Suryavanshi anchored a 142-run stand for the second wicket. The pair took only 13 overs to move India past the 150-run mark, leaving the English fielders shell-shocked.
• Beast Mode: The southpaw’s century was punctuated by a ruthless 22-run over against off-spinner Farhan Ahmed, which included three consecutive sixes.

A "New Look" Era

Suryavanshi’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. In 2025, he became the youngest debutant in IPL history for the Rajasthan Royals, and he already holds the record for the youngest player to score a professional T20 century.

"He isn't just playing; he's dominating players three or four years his senior," noted one ICC commentator during the broadcast. "To produce a 55-ball century in a World Cup final is a statement that the 'prodigy' tag is well-earned."

Suryavanshi got out (175 off 80) after scoring the most runs (1412) for India Under-19s. England, also undefeated heading into the final, now faces the daunting task of containing an Indian lineup that has already recorded the highest-ever successful run chase in the tournament's history earlier this week.