Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the young batting prodigy, announced himself on the international stage with a scintillating display of power-hitting, guiding India Under-19s to a comfortable victory over England Under-19s in the first One Day International (ODI) of their ongoing series. The 14-year-old's explosive innings provided the perfect platform for India to chase down the target set by the hosts, showcasing his potential as a future star of Indian cricket.
The match, held at the County Ground in Hove, saw England Under-19s opting to bat first after winning the toss. However, the Indian bowlers put up a disciplined performance, restricting the hosts to a modest total of 174 in 42.2 overs. Kanishk Chouhan led the charge with an impressive spell, claiming 3 wickets for just 20 runs in his quota of 10 overs. He was well supported by Mohamed Enaan, RS Ambrish, and Henil Patel, who chipped in with two wickets each, ensuring that England's batsmen could never really get going. Rocky Flintoff, son of former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, was the top scorer for the home side with a composed 56, but his efforts were not enough to propel England to a competitive score.
Chasing 175 for victory, India Under-19s needed a solid start, and that's exactly what Suryavanshi provided. Opening the innings alongside captain Ayush Mhatre, the young batsman unleashed a flurry of boundaries, taking the attack to the English bowlers. Suryavanshi, wearing Virat Kohli's iconic No. 18 jersey, smashed 5 sixes and 3 fours in his breathtaking 19-ball innings, scoring 48 runs at a staggering strike rate of 252.63. His fearless approach and ability to clear the boundary with ease left the opposition stunned and set the tone for a comfortable run chase.
Suryavanshi and Mhatre added 71 runs for the first wicket in just 7.3 overs, effectively taking the game away from England. Although Suryavanshi fell just short of a well-deserved half-century, his explosive start had given India the upper hand. Mhatre contributed a solid 21 before being dismissed, but the platform had been laid for the middle order to complete the chase. Vice-captain Abhigyan Kundu played a mature innings, remaining unbeaten on 45 off 34 balls, ensuring that India crossed the finish line with 6 wickets in hand and plenty of overs to spare.
Suryavanshi's remarkable innings comes on the heels of a successful stint in the IPL, where he played for the Rajasthan Royals. The youngster had made headlines earlier in the year with a record-breaking century, further cementing his reputation as a player to watch out for. His ability to seamlessly transition from the T20 format to the ODI format is a testament to his adaptability and talent.
With this convincing win, India Under-19s have taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match ODI series. The victory will undoubtedly boost their confidence as they look to continue their dominance in the remaining matches. The next game is scheduled to take place in Northampton on June 30th.
