NEW DELHI: After a stellar showing in England, India U19 sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi wasted no time making his mark Down Under, delivering a rapid-fire 38 off 22 balls in the first Youth ODI against Australia U19 at the Ian Healy Oval on Sunday.
Suryavanshi’s cameo, featuring seven fours and a six, came at a strike rate of 172.73, setting the tone for India’s dominant performance in the three-match series. His aggressive approach earned praise from Cricket Australia, who shared clips of the innings on social media, calling it “seriously entertaining.”
Batting first, Australia posted 225 for nine, thanks largely to a counterattacking 77 from John James, who steadied the innings after Australia slumped to 35 for four and later 107 for six. Seamer Henil Patel (3/38) led the Indian bowling effort, supported by Kanishk Chouhan (2/39), Kishan Kumar (2/59), and RS Ambrish (1/50), restricting the hosts well below par. Tom Hogan (41) and Steven Hogan (39) struggled against disciplined Indian bowling, reflecting the visitors’ control over the game.
In reply, India’s chase began explosively with Suryavanshi and skipper Ayush Mhatre putting on a 50-run opening partnership. Suryavanshi dominated before being dismissed by Hayden Schiller. Two balls later, Mhatre’s departure triggered a mini-collapse, with Vihaan Malhotra falling for nine, leaving India at 75 for three in the 10th over.
However, Abhigyan Kundu (87 not out) and Vedant Trivedi (61 not out) rebuilt the innings with an unbroken 152-run fourth-wicket stand, cruising to a comprehensive seven-wicket victory with 117 balls to spare. Kundu’s innings featured five sixes and eight fours, while Trivedi struck eight boundaries off 69 balls, ensuring the chase remained smooth.
Suryavanshi’s cameo, though brief, sent a clear message: the 14-year-old prodigy is ready to assert his dominance in Australia, complementing the mature, steady contributions from Kundu and Trivedi. With his aggressive flair and natural power, Suryavanshi has firmly announced himself as one to watch in the Youth ODI series.