The Under-19 captain of India Vaibhav Suryavanshi made his mark by hitting a sensational hundred in South Africa. His maiden series as captain was a memorable one because the left-handed opener delivered a magnificent blow in the third Youth ODI against South Africa Under-19 in Benoni.
Suryavanshi had made 127 runs out of 74 balls, and it only took him 63 reviews to score a hundred. He battled an attacking intent in his innings by hitting nine fours and ten sixes. In this match, he was the youngest Under-19 captain to make a century in a Youth ODI. It was also his third century in the 50 over youth version.
The young opener reached his half-century in only 24 balls and had a huge opening partnership of 227 runs with Aaron George. He was eventually sacked in the 26 th over, however, by that time India was at full control of the match.
Suryavanshi has also been brilliant in the series. He went on to destroy a fast 68 with only two dozen balls, ten of which were sixes in the second Youth ODI on January 5. The resultant explosive knock saw India Under-19 win the match by eight wickets through the DLS technique and consolidate a series victory against England by 2 wickets in a series that could not be contested.
The Bihar-born batter already has an impressive resume and at a very young age. He has hit centuries in youth cricket in England, Australia and Qatar, as also in Youth ODI with England and Youth Test with Australia. Another tournament Vaibhav has scored the mark of three figures is the Asia Cup, the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Bihar and in India A.
Suryavanshi has headlined in franchise cricket because he has hit a century in the IPL and has the highest hundred scored by an Indian in the league. His blistering ascendancy has already set the talks of a potential senior India call-up in the near future.
At the same time, India Under-19 will shortly shift to the Under-19 world cup. India is a 5 time champion that has been put in Group B alongside New Zealand, Bangladesh and the United States. India will start their campaign against USA on January 15 in Bulawayo and then against Bangladesh on January 17 and New Zealand on January 24.
India Under-19 will go into the tournament with Vaibhav Suryavanshi at the helm of affairs and full of confidence.
