Harare, Feb 6: A breathtaking century from teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi propelled India to a 100-run victory over England, sealing their sixth ICC U-19 World Cup trophy. The final in Harare witnessed one of the most dominant individual performances in youth cricket history, as India’s total of 411 proved too steep for the English pursuers.
Sooryavanshi, at just 14 years old, became the youngest player to score a century in a World Cup final. His 175-run onslaught lasted less than two hours but completely shifted the momentum in India’s favor. Supported by contributions from Ayush Mhatre and the middle order, India reached the highest-ever team total in a U-19 World Cup summit clash.
“The way Vaibhav played today was simply incredible; he took the game away from us very early,” remarked an England team official during the post-match ceremony. “It was a world-class innings that set a standard difficult for any team to match in a high-pressure final.”
England’s chase began with intent, but the scoreboard pressure forced regular wickets. While Falconer’s century provided some resistance, India’s bowling unit operated as a cohesive force to dismantle the English lineup for 311. The collective effort ensured that the target remained out of reach despite the batting-friendly conditions at the Harare Sports Club.
This victory adds another chapter to India’s illustrious history in the tournament, having now won titles in 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, 2022, and 2026. The performance of this squad, particularly the record-breaking exploits of Sooryavanshi, indicates a bright future for the next generation of Indian international cricketers.
