Indian cricket has been graced with yet another prodigious talent, as 14-year-old Vaibhav Surya Banshi continues to rewrite the record books with his devastating batting performances. Following his exploits in the IPL, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Under-19 One-Dayers, and Youth Tests, Surya Banshi made headlines once again in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, delivering a world-record innings that has stunned the cricketing community.
On Wednesday in Ranchi, during the opening match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Arunachal Pradesh, the left-handed opener unleashed an extraordinary display of power-hitting. Born in 2011, Surya Banshi blitzed the opposition, scoring a century off just 36 deliveries and going on to amass 190 runs from 84 balls before being dismissed.
At just 14 years and 272 days old, he has become the youngest player in List ‘A’ cricket history to score a century, surpassing Pakistan’s Zahoor Elahi, who had held the previous record since 1986 at 15 years and 209 days.
Surya Banshi’s innings was a showcase of precision and power:
| Milestone | Balls Faced | Fours | Sixes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 25 | 8 | 2 | Rapid half-century |
| 100 | 36 | 10 | 8 | Second fastest century by an Indian |
| 150 | 59 | 14 | 13 | Fastest 150 in List ‘A’ cricket history |
| Total 190 | 84 | 16 | 15 | Dismissed in 27th over |
From the outset, Surya Banshi attacked fearlessly, reaching his first fifty in just 25 balls with eight fours and two sixes. He completed his century in 36 balls, marking the second-fastest century by an Indian batsman and the fourth-fastest globally, behind Australia’s Jake Fraser-McGurk, who reached triple figures in 29 balls.
Maintaining his extraordinary rhythm, he raced to 150 in 59 balls, breaking AB de Villiers’ previous record for the fastest 150 in List ‘A’ cricket, which stood at 64 balls against the West Indies during the 2015 World Cup.
Ultimately, the left-hander fell in the 27th over, deprived of the chance to set the record for the fastest double century in List ‘A’ cricket—a mark that remains with New Zealand’s Chad Boocock, who scored a double century in 103 balls. Nevertheless, Surya Banshi’s explosive innings cements his reputation as one of the most remarkable young talents in world cricket.