Chasing a 138-run target, Vaibhav Suryavanshi had no jitters as he clobbered his first delivery for a slog-swept six against UAE in Sharjah. (AP)
Thirteen-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been in the spotlight during India’s ongoing Under-19 Asia Cup campaign in the United Arab Emirates. Despite a lowly start with the bat at the top of the order, Suryavanshi finally come to the fore as he cracked an unbeaten 76 against UAE in India’s final group-stage game in Sharjah on Wednesday.
Chasing a 138-run target, Suryavanshi had no jitters as he clobbered his first delivery for a slog-swept six over mid-wicket in the second over off UAE spinner Aliasgar. The sturdy left-hander was in a mood to attack from the onset and he made it clear by smoking two more sixes – over long-on and mid-wicket – against left-arm spinner Aayan Khan. The Bihar batter walloped Aliasgar once again with a sharp swipe across the line, sending the ball over the mid-wicket fence for his fourth maximum in 10 deliveries.
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Vaibhav Suryavanshi is setting the field on 🔥 at Sharjah in #UAEvIND 💪
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With Mumbai teenager Aayush Mhatre for company, Suryavanshi reached his fifty in 32 deliveries before the pair led India home to a breezy 10-wicket win, helping the team qualify for the semi-finals of the tournament. Suryavanshi remained unbeaten on 76 off 36 balls with three fours and six maximums. India’s only defeat came against Pakistan in their campaign opener. They will now face Sri Lanka in the second semi in Sharjah on Friday.
Suryavanshi has experienced a sensational fortnight, where he went from making his T20 debut for Bihar in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy to becoming a Rs 1.1 crore signing of the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2025 Mega Auction in Jeddah. The bid made Suryavanshi the youngest cricketer ever to be auctioned in IPL history.
Suryavanshi’s fifty helped him overcome low scores in the two previous games against Pakistan and Japan, where he totalled 24 runs in two outings.
