Fresh from an impressive tour in England, India’s Under-19 star, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, made an immediate impact in Australia. He delivered a blistering 38 runs off just 22 balls in the opening Youth One-Day International against Australia U19 at the Ian Healy Oval on Sunday.
Suryavanshi’s dynamic cameo, which included seven fours and a six, came at an impressive strike rate of 172.73. His aggressive play truly set the tone for India’s dominant performance in this three-match series, even earning high praise from Cricket Australia for his “seriously entertaining” innings.
Earlier in the match, Australia had managed to post 225 for nine after batting first. Their innings was largely salvaged by a counterattacking 77 from John James, who skillfully stabilized the team after they faced early collapses at 35 for four and later 107 for six.
The Indian bowling attack was led by seamer Henil Patel, who claimed three wickets for 38 runs. He was well-supported by Kanishk Chouhan (2/39), Kishan Kumar (2/59), and RS Ambrish (1/50), collectively restricting the hosts to a sub-par total. Australian batsmen Tom Hogan (41) and Steven Hogan (39) found it challenging to score freely against the disciplined Indian bowling, highlighting India’s control over the game.
In pursuit of the target, India’s chase kicked off with an explosive start from Suryavanshi and skipper Ayush Mhatre, who built a brisk 50-run opening partnership. Suryavanshi continued to dominate before his dismissal by Hayden Schiller. His departure, followed swiftly by Mhatre’s two balls later and Vihaan Malhotra’s fall for nine, saw India reeling slightly at 75 for three in the 10th over.
However, Abhigyan Kundu, with a superb 87 runs not out, and Vedant Trivedi, adding an unbeaten 61 runs, completely turned the tide. They forged an unbroken 152-run fourth-wicket stand, guiding India to a comprehensive seven-wicket victory with a remarkable 117 balls to spare. Kundu’s stellar innings featured five sixes and eight fours, while Trivedi smashed eight boundaries off his 69 balls, ensuring a smooth and confident completion of the chase.
Suryavanshi’s brief yet impactful cameo sent a clear message: the 14-year-old prodigy is more than ready to assert his dominance in Australia. His aggressive flair and natural power perfectly complemented the mature and steady contributions from Kundu and Trivedi. With this performance, Suryavanshi has firmly announced himself as a compelling talent to watch in the ongoing Youth ODI series.