The long production line of talented batters from India looks set to continue, after a 13-year-old smashed a 58-ball century in a Youth Test against Australia’s Under-19 team in Chennai.
Teenager Vaibhav Suryavanshi made easy work of some of the finest young quicks Australia has to offer, belting four sixes and 14 boundaries until he was run out on 104 off just 62 balls.
“Honestly, I never feel threatened. Be it fast bowlers or spinners, I love to hit them,” Suryavanshi told The Indian Express.
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“At the same time, I also understand that I have to look at the pitch and play according to the situation. Even here I was only trying to do that.”
It was an historic knock on several fronts for Suryavanshi, who was born in 2011 and counts West Indies great Brian Lara as his idol.
It was the second-fastest century in the history of Youth Tests, and he became the youngest cricketer to score a century at any international level.
The previous record was held by current Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who was 14 years and 241 days when he scored his ton.
Suryavanshi formed a 133-run partnership with opening partner Vihaan Malhotra before the hosts were bowled out for 296 in response to Australia’s first-innings 293.
Australia was 4-110 at stumps on day two of the Youth Test, leading by 107 runs.
The Aussies are looking to square the ledger in the longer form of the game, after India’s Under-19 team defeated the tourists 3-0 in the Youth ODI series last week.