IND vs ENG ICC U19 World Cup Final: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 175 Leads India to 411/9

India posted a record-breaking total of 411 for 9 in the ICC Under-19 World Cup final against England, powered by a sensational 175 off 80 balls from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at Harare.

The 14-year-old opener produced the highest individual score ever in an ICC Under-19 World Cup final, striking 15 fours and 15 sixes at a strike rate of 218.75. His century came in just 55 balls, making it the fastest hundred in a U19 final.

After winning the toss, India opted to bat first — a decision that proved decisive within the first ten overs. Openers got India off to a fluent start, but it was Sooryavanshi who immediately seized control of the contest. England’s new-ball bowlers attempted to probe early with movement and pace, yet the 14-year-old responded with confident strokeplay on both sides of the wicket. Despite frequent bowling changes and varied field placements, England were unable to contain the young batter, who showed composure and power well beyond his age.

Sooryavanshi’s method stood out. He didn’t rely solely on power; instead, he combined clean footwork with early shot selection. Short balls were pulled with authority, full deliveries were driven straight or through cover, and anything drifting onto the pads was dispatched into the leg-side stands. England rotated their bowlers frequently, but the change of pace and angle made little difference.

The century arrived in just 55 balls — the fastest ever in an Under-19 World Cup final — and by then England’s field had spread wide. Rather than consolidate, Sooryavanshi accelerated further, targeting the shorter boundaries and exploiting gaps with precision. His boundary count told the story: 15 fours and 15 sixes, an extraordinary balance that reflected control as much as aggression.

England finally found relief when Manny Lumsden induced a leg-side glove, with Thomas Rew completing the catch behind the stumps. By then, however, the damage was overwhelming. Sooryavanshi was eventually dismissed for 175, India were 251 for 3 in the 26th over, and England’s bowlers had already logged exhausting spells.

Captain Ayush Mhatre played a crucial supporting role. While Sooryavanshi dominated, Mhatre’s 53 off 51 balls ensured stability at the other end. His innings included well-timed singles and boundary options that prevented England from focusing entirely on the younger batter.

The middle order added valuable momentum. Kundu’s 40 off 31 balls kept the run rate above eight an over, while Kanishk’s unbeaten 37 off just 20 deliveries provided late acceleration. Vihaan’s 30 added substance during a brief consolidation phase. Though wickets fell in the latter overs, England were unable to claw the scoring rate back significantly.

From a bowling perspective, England showed resilience despite the punishment. Rew marshalled his resources diligently, mixing defensive fields with attacking bursts. Lumsden and Rehan Ahmed managed breakthroughs, and the final ten overs yielded some success, but the total had already ballooned beyond control.

Sooryavanshi became only the sixth batter to score a century in an Under-19 World Cup final and surpassed Unmukt Chand’s previous record score of 111. The innings added to his growing reputation, following a record IPL century and earlier success against England in youth internationals.

India’s commanding batting performance left England requiring a record chase in the final.

And India lift their sixth ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup title under captain Ayush Mhatre’s leadership with an outstanding performance by the youngsters.

And the top batters in the ICC U19 World Cup are

Under the lights at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, the Women’s Premier League final delivered everything a cricket lover could ask for — big runs, brave bowling, nerves stretched thin, and a chase that will be spoken about for years. In the end, it was Royal Challengers Bengaluru who stood tall, chasing down 203 against Delhi Capitals to lift their second WPL title, powered by a heroic innings from Smriti Mandhana.

DC Batting: Bold, Brave, and Nearly Perfect

Delhi Capitals won the toss and chose to bat — a decision that seemed spot on as their top order came out with intent. Shafali Verma set the tone early with her trademark aggression, while Lizelle Lee provided balance, helping DC race to 49 inside the powerplay. Though both fell in quick succession, the platform was firmly laid.

The innings truly found its rhythm when Laura Wolvaardt and captain Jemimah Rodrigues stitched together a crucial 76-run partnership. Wolvaardt’s fluent 44 off 25 kept the scoreboard ticking, but it was Jemimah who anchored the innings with poise. Her 57 off 37 balls was a captain’s knock — calm under pressure, decisive when needed.

Just when it seemed DC might slow down, Chinelle Henry launched a late assault, smashing an unbeaten 35 off 15, pushing Delhi past the psychological 200-run mark. At 203/4, it was the highest total ever in a WPL final — and it felt massive.

RCB Bowling: Damage Control with Discipline

RCB’s bowlers had a tough evening, but they held their nerve when it mattered. Lauren Bell’s spell of 0/19 in four overs stood out like gold dust in a high-scoring final, applying pressure through sheer control. The rest of the attack focused on containment rather than miracles, ensuring DC didn’t run away to something unchaseable.

RCB Batting: Smriti Mandhana Takes Over History

Chasing 204 in a final is never easy. When Grace Harris fell early, a familiar RCB nervousness threatened to creep in. What followed instead was one of the greatest partnerships in WPL history.

Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll didn’t just chase the target — they hunted it down. Voll’s 79 off 54 was fearless and composed, but this night belonged to Mandhana. Battling a severe flu, she produced an innings of staggering clarity and courage — 87 off 41 balls, filled with timing, placement, and authority.

Mandhana reached her half-century in just 23 balls, her fastest in the WPL, and then dismantled DC’s spin attack with surgical precision. Sweeps, inside-out lofts, late cuts — every shot came with intent and assurance. The 165-run partnership drained the life out of Delhi’s bowling and turned pressure into belief.

By the time Mandhana fell in the penultimate over, RCB were already at the doorstep. With 10 needed off the final over, calm heads prevailed, and the winning runs were struck to spark wild celebrations.

DC Bowling: Fight Till the Last Ball

To DC’s credit, they never gave up. Chinelle Henry picked up 2/34, including the prized wicket of Mandhana, while the rest of the attack kept searching for an opening that never truly came. On another day, 203 would have been enough. This just wasn’t that day.

Champions Once Again

RCB finished the tournament as the most complete side, topping the league stage and delivering when it mattered most. Smriti Mandhana, the tournament’s Orange Cap winner with 377 runs, led from the front — not just with runs, but with heart.

For Delhi Capitals, it was another painful final loss, but their cricket deserved respect. They played bold, fearless cricket all season and pushed the champions to their absolute limits.

On a night when records fell and courage rose, women’s cricket won — and Smriti Mandhana reminded the world what leadership under pressure truly looks like.

Women’s Premier League 2026 Top Performers

• Orange Cap: Smriti Mandhana (RCB)
• Purple Cap: Sophie Devine (GG)
• Most Valuable Player: Sophie Devine (GG)
• Emerging Player of the Season: Nandani Sharma (DC)

Just when cricketing fans were getting excited about the 2026 ICC T20I World Cup, a major demand has come out of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has made it clear that their T20I cricket squad is not comfortable travelling to India due to security reason for their  ICC T20I World Cup slated matches.

Yes, you read that right—Bangladesh may not play any of its scheduled World Cup matches in India.

The whole issue erupted after star pacer Mustafizur Rahman was ruled out of the IPL tournament by the
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), due to security concerns reportedly playing a major role.

This decision of BCCI didn’t go down well with the BCB, and things heightened further from there. According to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), the safety of players, support staff, journalists, and travelling Bangladeshi fans is their top priority.

Following a thorough assessment of the prevailing situation and the growing concerns regarding the safety and security of the Bangladesh contingent in India and considering the advice from the Bangladesh Government, the Board of Directors resolved that the Bangladesh National Team will not travel to India for the tournament under the current conditions.

In light of this decision, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC), as the event authority, to consider relocating all of Bangladesh’s matches to a venue outside India.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB)’s statement was announced two hours after Bangladesh’s sports adviser, Asif Nazrul supported the board’s decision of reluctance to travel to India.

“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided not to send the Bangladesh team to India for the World Cup,” he posted on his official Facebook page. “We welcome this decision taken in the context of the radical communal policies of the Indian cricket board.”

In an official statement, the board has now requested the ICC to move all Bangladesh matches out of India, possibly to Sri Lanka.

A Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official summed it up straight: “If security can’t be guaranteed for one Bangladeshi player, how can it be guaranteed for an entire team?” Strong words—but ones that show how serious the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is about this entire episode.

What adds more fuel to the fire is that India and Sri Lanka are co-hosting the ICC T20I World Cup 2026, and unlike earlier tournaments, there is no mixed model in place.

If the ICC agrees to Bangladesh’s request, it could open up a whole new set of logistical and scheduling problems. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has also written to the BCCI, asking for clarification on why Mustafizur was released from the IPL squad after Bangladesh was earlier
requested to make him available for the auction.

Interestingly, this letter doesn’t talk about security—those concerns have been taken straight to the ICC. As of now, the ICC has not made a final decision. For cricket enthusiasts, this situation raises big questions. Will Bangladesh’s matches be shifted entirely to Sri Lanka?

Could this affect the tournament schedule? And most importantly—will the sentiments, arising due to the volatile situation be linked to existing political tensions between India and Bangladesh, with India’s foreign ministry having previously condemned brutality towards Hindu minorities in Bangladesh and will security concerns overshadow the sporting spirit of cricket itself?

With the World Cup just a months away, one thing is without a doubt: the road to the ICC T20I World Cup 2026 is already getting on bumpy road.