On Saturday, January 3, Vaibhav Suryavanshi etched his name in the annals of cricket history when he captained the Indian U-19 cricket team in the first match of the three-match Youth ODI series against South Africa U-19 at Willowmoore Park in Benoni. Despite scoring just 11 runs off 12 balls in his debut as captain, the match symbolized a landmark achievement in his burgeoning career.
Suryavanshi Sets a New Record
At only 14 years of age, Suryavanshi became the youngest player in the world to captain a team in a Youth ODI. Furthermore, he made history by becoming the first cricketer to lead an international U-19 match in any format before the age of 16. In achieving this, he broke Pakistani Ahmad Shehzad's 19-year-old record.
The opportunity came his way with the regular captain Ayush Mhatre and vice-captain Vihaan Malhotra sidelined due to injuries. They are, however, expected to make a return for the upcoming U-19 World Cup, commencing on January 15, to be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Consistent Stellar Performances by Vaibhav
Earlier, Suryavanshi had gained attention with his record-breaking, explosive batting in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Representing Bihar against Arunachal Pradesh in Ranchi, he scored a century in just 36 balls. His remarkable innings of 190 runs in 84 balls featured 16 fours and 15 sixes, ensuring Bihar's massive 397-run victory over Arunachal Pradesh.
During this historic innings, Vaibhav Suryavanshi shattered AB de Villiers' long-standing record for the fastest 150 runs in List A cricket, achieving it 10 balls earlier. His 15 sixes in the innings also set the record for the most sixes by any Indian batsman in List A format.
Owing to his relentless outstanding performances in junior and domestic cricket, Suryavanshi has recently been appointed as Bihar's vice-captain for the first two rounds of the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy season. Moreover, he was honored by President Droupadi Murmu with the Prime Minister's National Child Award (PMRBP) at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. PMRBP is India's highest civilian award for exceptional achievements and excellence among children aged 5 to 18 across various fields.
