NEW DELHI: Teen batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on Friday dedicated his Player of the Final award to the Indian team’s support staff, acknowledging their role following his sensational knock in the U-19 World Cup final against England.
Batting prodigy Sooryavanshi lit up the biggest stage with a breathtaking 80-ball 175, powering India to a record-extending sixth title after a commanding 100-run win over England.
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"I can't express what I am feeling but the way we have all been working hard for the last 7-8 months and our support staff who have been with us for a long time and always made sure we are alright, I would like to dedicate the award to them," Sooryavanshi said at the presentation ceremony.
"For the last eight to nine months, the support staff and the team have been working together. That preparation has played a huge role in getting us to where we are today."
Historic Double at the U-19 World Cup
Sooryavanshi became the first cricketer to bag both the Player of the Final and Player of the Tournament awards in a single edition of the U-19 World Cup.
The 14-year-old also smashed the fastest 150 in Under-19 cricket, reaching the landmark in just 71
Chasing a daunting target, England kept the asking rate under control for long periods but lost wickets at regular intervals, which gradually stalled their chase.
They were eventually bowled out for 311, with Caleb Falconer top-scoring with a scintillating 67-ball 115.
Sooryavanshi, who had first caught the cricketing world’s attention during last year’s Indian Premier League, hammered 15 sixes and an equal number of fours, registering the highest individual score by a batter in an ICC tournament final.
(With PTI Inputs)
