India's U19 cricket team has once again brought glory to the nation, securing their sixth World Cup title with a dominant performance against England in the final held on Friday. The victory sparked celebrations across the country, with cricketing legends Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli leading the chorus of praise for the young champions.
The hero of the hour was undoubtedly Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, whose blistering innings left spectators and experts in awe. The 14-year-old batting sensation from Rajasthan Royals smashed a remarkable 175 off just 80 balls, including 15 sixes and 15 fours. Sooryavanshi’s incredible knock propelled India to a formidable total of 411 for 9, effectively sealing the fate of the match. His century came in a mere 55 balls, marking the second-fastest hundred in the history of the U19 World Cup.
Sachin Tendulkar, himself a child prodigy who debuted for India at the age of 16, was particularly impressed by Sooryavanshi's fearless approach and exceptional talent. "Vaibhav's fearless approach, bat speed, picking the length early, and transferring the energy behind the ball was the recipe behind a fabulous innings," Tendulkar posted on social media. He added, "End result: 101 runs off 38 balls. Well played!!". Tendulkar's praise underscores the potential Sooryavanshi holds and the bright future ahead of him.
Other former cricketers also lauded Sooryavanshi's performance. Yuvraj Singh highlighted the young batter's ability to dominate some of the best bowlers in the world, while Kris Srikkanth called Sooryavanshi a "phenom" and "Indian cricket's next superstar". Ian Bishop, the former West Indies pacer, compared Sooryavanshi's exploits with those of a young Sachin Tendulkar.
Virat Kohli, who captained India to U19 World Cup victory in 2008, also expressed his joy and pride in the team's achievement. "Congratulations to the U-19 Indian team for lifting the World Cup once again," Kohli shared on social media. "Our domination in age-group cricket and beyond continues. Well done to the whole squad and the support staff". Kohli's message highlighted India's strong youth development system, which consistently produces talented cricketers who go on to represent the senior team. Gautam Gambhir, India's current head coach, joined Kohli in congratulating the team. "Proud of you boys! The bright future is here!" Gambhir exclaimed, reflecting the optimism surrounding the next generation of Indian cricketers.
Apart from Sooryavanshi's spectacular innings, captain Ayush Mhatre also played a crucial role, contributing a valuable half-century. Vedant Trivedi, Vihaan Malhotra, and Abhigyan Kundu further bolstered the score with useful contributions. This victory marks India's sixth U19 World Cup title, solidifying their dominance in age-group cricket. The win is a testament to the talent, dedication, and hard work of the young players and the coaching staff. It also signals a promising future for Indian cricket, with players like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi leading the charge.