Cometh the hour, cometh the teenager. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has arguably played the most important knock of his young career, smashing a dazzling 32-ball half-century in the ICC Men's U-19 World Cup 2026 Final against England.

Also Read: U-19 World Cup Final: India opt to bat against England

The pressure was immense at the Harare Sports Club. After winning the toss and choosing to bat, India suffered an early setback when in-form opener Aaron George was dismissed cheaply for just 9 runs. With the English pacers tails up, the situation called for calm, but Sooryavanshi chose counter-attack.

The 14-year-old left-hander didn’t just survive; he dominated. Reaching his fifty in a mere 32 deliveries, he sent the English bowlers on a leather hunt, cracking 6 exquisite fours and 3 towering sixes to reach his half-century. Striking at a rate of 156, he completely shifted the momentum back to India, refusing to let the early wicket bog the team down.

This innings marks his fourth half-century of the tournament, proving he is a player for the big occasions. Just days ago, he lit up the semi-final with a similar explosive performance against Afghanistan. Now, doing it in the Final proves his temperament is as elite as his talent.

Currently, he has found a rock-solid partner in Captain Ayush Mhatre. The duo has stabilised the innings beautifully, blending caution with aggression. As they build this crucial partnership, the Indian dressing room and millions of fans back home will be hoping this young prodigy turns this blistering start into a match-winning hundred.

New Sixes King: Breaking the World Record, ft. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

With his 7 sixes today(till now), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has achieved something incredible. He now holds the record for the most sixes in U-19 World Cup history, overtaking "Baby AB" Dewald Brevis.

Here is where the young Indian star stands among the giants:

20 – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (2026)*

18 – Dewald Brevis (2022)

18 – Finn Allen (2016 & 2018)

15 – Jack Burnham (2016)

14 – Michael Hill (2008)

14 – Nicholas Pooran (2014)