India A player Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has garnered praise for his remarkable performance in the Tri-Nation Series final against Sri Lanka A. Just days after a tense encounter with rival players, Sooryavanshi captivated audiences on Sunday with his record-breaking innings and display of sportsmanship.
In the series final held in Dambulla, Sooryavanshi overcame his previous form struggles, contributing a massive 94 runs off just 29 balls to help India A post a formidable total of 377/9 against Sri Lanka A. This explosive innings also included a new record for the fastest fifty in List A cricket history.
Sooryavanshi’s prior match against Sri Lanka A had ended in a physical altercation. However, during Sunday’s game, Sri Lankan players were seen congratulating him on the field following his fiery performance, highlighting the unifying power of sport and mutual respect among athletes.
India A had aimed to surpass 400 runs with Sooryavanshi’s exceptional batting. Captain Tilak Varma supported with 67 runs, while Anukul Roy (39) and Vipraj Nigam (27) provided crucial late-innings contributions, pushing the team’s score beyond 350.
The day’s star, 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, hailing from Samastipur in Bihar, equaled the 21-year-old record set by Sri Lanka’s Kaushalya Weeraratne in 2005, reaching his half-century in just 11 deliveries. Sooryavanshi dismantled the Sri Lanka A bowling attack with a flurry of fours and sixes in his initial 11 balls. He sealed his record-breaking feat with consecutive sixes against bowler Dulaj Samuditha.
Sooryavanshi demonstrated his dominance through a combination of power and timing. Initially targeting the leg side against fast bowlers, he easily exploited the off-side when Sri Lanka A added an extra fielder on the leg side. His ability to send even well-directed balls over the boundary was evident. The most striking aspect of his batting was his strokeplay over extra cover, where three effortless sixes showcased the rapid bat speed, balance, and fearlessness that mark him as one of India’s most exciting young talents.
Alongside Priyansh Arya (39), Sooryavanshi forged a 132-run opening partnership and was on track to challenge the fastest century in List A cricket. However, he was caught at mid-off by spinner Sahan Arachchige in the ninth over. Arya departed an over later, allowing Sri Lanka A to regain some momentum.
A 63-run partnership between Ruturaj Gaikwad (40) and Tilak saw the scoring rate significantly decrease. As India attempted to accelerate, wickets fell at regular intervals, though Nigam and Anukul’s late hitting provided a final surge to the score.
