Dambulla, 21 June (H.S.):

India's teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi etched his name into the record books with a sensational innings against Sri Lanka A in the final of the Tri-Nation Series on Sunday. The 15-year-old left-handed opener smashed a breathtaking 94 off just 29 deliveries at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, rewriting several records with his explosive knock.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi raced to his half-century in a record-breaking 11 balls, becoming the fastest batter ever to score a fifty in List A cricket. In doing so, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi eclipsed the previous record of a 12-ball half-century set by Sri Lanka's Kaushalya Weeraratne more than two decades ago.

Opening the innings for India A, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi displayed attacking intent from the very first over, unleashing a flurry of boundaries and sixes. He dominated the powerplay with fearless stroke play, placing India A in a commanding position through his relentless assault on the Sri Lankan bowlers.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's spectacular innings of 94 runs from 29 balls included 10 fours and eight sixes. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi fell just six runs short of what would have been his maiden List A century. Had he completed the milestone with a six, he would have equalled the record for the fastest List A century, currently held by Australia's Jake Fraser-McGurk, who reached the landmark in 29 balls while representing South Australia against Tasmania in 2023.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had been the centre of attention throughout the Tri-Nation Series. Although he managed only 117 runs across his first four matches and did not produce the performances many had expected, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi silenced his critics with a stunning display in the final, once again underlining his immense potential.

Born in Bihar, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has emerged as one of Indian cricket's most talked-about young talents over the past year. Representing the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi amassed 776 runs at an outstanding strike rate of 237.30, attracting widespread attention with his fearless batting. His remarkable IPL performances earned Vaibhav Sooryavanshi his maiden call-up to the India A squad.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar