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