Fourteen-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi produced a T20 innings for the ages, smashing a scarcely believable 144 off 42 balls to power India A to a thumping 148-run win over UAE in their Asia Cup Rising Stars opener in Doha on Friday.
Suryavanshi’s innings, laced with 11 fours and 15 sixes, propelled India A to 297 for 4, the joint fifth-highest total in men’s T20 cricket. His strike rate of 342.85 is the fourth-highest ever for a T20 century.
The left-hander reached his hundred in 32 balls, making it the joint-second fastest by an Indian and the joint-fifth fastest in T20 history. At 14 years and 232 days, he also became the youngest man to score a hundred for a national representative side, breaking Mushfiqur Rahim’s 2005 record.
A Knock Born from a First-Ball Reprieve
Remarkably, Suryavanshi was dropped off his very first delivery, a moment that only fuelled his assault. He blasted a 17-ball fifty, shifted into overdrive and dismantled UAE’s attack with breathtaking ease. His 163-run second-wicket stand with Naman Dhir (34) in just 57 balls transformed a steady start into a carnage-filled middle phase.
This was the teenager’s second T20 century, following his 35-ball IPL ton earlier this year for Rajasthan Royals, the innings that had already rewritten age-group T20 records.
Jitesh Joins the Party
After Suryavanshi’s dismissal in the 13th over, captain Jitesh Sharma ensured the scoring rate never dipped. His blistering 83 not out off 32 balls carried India A towards what briefly looked like a historic 300-plus total. Though they finished on 297, the total still sits among India’s highest ever in T20s, matched only by the senior side’s 297 against Bangladesh in 2024.
UAE Never in the Chase
Chasing 298, UAE never found rhythm. Only Shoaib Khan offered resistance with a fighting 63 off 41 balls. India A’s bowlers maintained complete control, led by Gurpanjeet Singh’s excellent 3 for 18. UAE ended on 149 for 7, well shy of competing.
BrieF Scores: India A 297/4 in 20 overs (Vaibhav Suryavanshi 144, Jitesh Sharma 83; Aayan Afzal Khan 1/42, Muhammad Arfan 1/57) UAE A 149/7 in 20 overs (Shoaib Khan 63, Muhammad Arfan 26; Gurpanjeet Singh 3/18, Harsh Dubey 2/12): India A won by 148 runs.
