Just days after drawing criticism for his on-field behaviour during a heated tied match against Sri Lanka A, India's teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced a knock that underlined why he is regarded as one of the brightest prospects in Indian cricket.
The 15-year-old smashed the fastest fifty in List A cricket history during the final of the Tri-Nation Series in Dambulla on Sunday, racing to the landmark in just 11 balls before eventually falling for a breathtaking 94 off 29 deliveries against Sri Lanka A.
Sooryavanshi's innings, studded with 10 fours and eight sixes, came at a strike rate of 324.14 and put India A firmly in control of the title clash. However, he was dismissed by spinner Sahan Arachchige in the ninth over, denying him a shot at another world record.
The left-hander had looked set to challenge the record for the fastest century in List A cricket, currently held by Australia's Jake Fraser-McGurk, who reached the milestone in 29 balls while playing for South Australia against Tasmania during the 2023-24 season.
Record-breaking assault
Opening the innings after Sri Lanka A opted to bowl first, Sooryavanshi launched an immediate attack on the bowlers. He reached his half-century in only 11 deliveries, surpassing the previous List A record of 12 balls held by Sri Lanka's Kaushalya Weeraratne since the 2005-06 season.
The innings also eclipsed the Indian record for the fastest List A fifty, which had been held by Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan after his 15-ball half-century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
By the time Arachchige ended the carnage, Sooryavanshi had already rewritten the record books and transformed the final with one of the most explosive knocks seen in the format.
Answering critics on the biggest stage
The innings was particularly significant given the scrutiny surrounding Sooryavanshi earlier in the tournament. The youngster faced criticism following a shoving incident during India's tied league-stage match against Sri Lanka A, with many questioning his temperament.
His performances with the bat in the league phase had also been modest by his lofty standards. He scored 14 off 12 balls and 21 off 14 balls in two matches against Sri Lanka A, while registering 44 off 22 balls and 38 off 28 balls against Afghanistan A.
While those innings contained flashes of aggression, they lacked the defining impact expected from one of India's most exciting young batters.
The final, however, told a different story.
With a trophy on the line, Sooryavanshi delivered his most complete innings of the tournament, showcasing not only his power-hitting but also his ability to thrive under pressure. The knock reinforced the growing perception that the teenager has the temperament to produce his best performances on the biggest occasions.
Although he missed out on surpassing Fraser-McGurk's 29-ball century record, Sooryavanshi already features among the fastest centurions in List A cricket.
The Bihar batter occupies eighth place on the all-time list after blasting a 36-ball hundred against Arunachal Pradesh during the 2025-26 domestic season. In that innings, he went on to score 190, one of the most destructive knocks in Indian domestic cricket.
The fastest List A century record remains with Fraser-McGurk, followed by AB de Villiers' 31-ball hundred for South Africa against the West Indies in Johannesburg in 2015.
At 16, Sooryavanshi has played only a handful of List A matches, yet he already owns records for both one of the fastest centuries and now the fastest half-century in the format's history.
Source: Business Standard
--Agencies
