Vaibhav Suryavanshi smashes yet another record while setting up series-clinching victory for India U-19s in South Africa

Rising India star Vaibhav Suryavanshi continues to smash records in his teens, before even being eligible to cast a vote or get a driver’s licence, this time breaking Rishabh Pant’s record for the fastest half-century by an Indian in a Youth ODI on Monday.

The explosive left-handed opener achieved the feat during the second ODI between South Africa U-19 and India U-19 at Willowmoore Park in Benoni, reaching the milestone in just 15 deliveries.

India Test vice-captain Pant had previously set the record with an 18-ball half-century against Nepal in Dhaka during the 2016 U-19 World Cup, a year before making his senior debut for the Men in Blue.

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Suryavanshi’s 15-ball half-century is now the second-fastest overall in Youth ODIs, with South Africa’s Steve Stolk having struck a 13-ball fifty against Scotland in Potchefstroom during the 2024 U-19 World Cup.

The Rajasthan Royals star, however, holds the record for two of the fastest centuries at this level – he had struck a 52-ball ton against England in Worcester in July and had brought up the milestone in just 56 balls against UAE in Dubai during last month’s Asia Cup.

Suryavanshi sets up comfortable series-clinching win for India U19s in Benoni

As for Monday’s game in Benoni, Suryavanshi – leading the side in the three-match series in Ayush Mhatre’s absence – got the visitors off to a dream start in their chase of the 246-run target set by the Junior Proteas that was later reduced to 174 in 27 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern Method.

The 14-year-old struck 10 sixes and a solitary four during his knock of 68 off 24 balls, helping India race to 95/1 in just 8 overs before getting dismissed by Michael Kruiskamp. Wicketkeeper-batter Abhigyan Kundu later assumed charge of the chase along with Vedant Trivedi, the two steering the ‘Boys in Blue’ to a commanding eight-wicket victory with three-and-a-half overs to spare.

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India had earlier registered a 25-run victory (DLS Method) in the series opener at the same venue on Saturday after posting 301 on the board, with inclement weather also resulting in the game coming to an end earlier than schedule.

And with their clinical triumph two days later, India clinched the series with a game to spare, making for an ideal preparation for the ICC U-19 World Cup that gets underway in Zimbabwe on 15 January.