India’s prodigious young opener, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, produced a sensational display of power-hitting on Friday, lighting up the U-19 Asia Cup with a breathtaking hundred that rewrote multiple tournament records. The 14-year-old reached his century in just 56 deliveries, having earlier brought up a half-century off a mere 30 balls, as India dominated their opening clash against the UAE.

Suryavanshi’s innings was defined by extraordinary clean hitting, particularly in the middle overs. He hammered 12 sixes, setting a new U-19 Asia Cup record for the most sixes in a single innings. The previous mark—10 sixes, set by Afghanistan’s Darwish Rasooli in 2017—was comfortably eclipsed. 

Remarkably, the young opener began his innings with caution. Facing UAE’s Ali Asghar Shums, he negotiated five consecutive dot balls in the second over, seemingly finding his rhythm. But the calm soon gave way to carnage: Suryavanshi drove the final ball of that over to the boundary, signalling the start of an onslaught that the hosts had no answer for.

His acceleration was particularly ruthless in the fourth over, where he dispatched Shums for two sixes and a four, setting the tone for a dominant Indian batting performance. Although India lost Ayush Mhatre at the other end, Suryavanshi’s brilliance ensured the run rate stayed comfortably above six an over.

In a tournament known for unearthing future stars, Suryavanshi’s explosive innings has already placed him firmly in the spotlight — a precocious talent announcing himself on an international stage with authority and flair. (With inputs from Agencies)