14-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was in action for the India U19 team on Monday (January 5). He opened the innings for the Indian team in the 246-run chase against South Africa during the second youth ODI played at Willowmoore Park in Benoni and scored 68 runs. He only faced 24 balls during his stay at the crease but slammed 1 four and 10 sixes. The left-handed batter’s super show not only helped India take early advantage in the run chase, but it also helped stun South African commentators.
In one of the videos going viral on the internet from the match, when Sooryavanshi smacked South Africa U19 pacer JJ Basson for a six on the fifth ball of the first over, one of the South African commentators who was on air at that time could not believe
his eyes, and he can be heard saying that the hook shot by the young Indian was of the highest calibre.
“His strike rate is perhaps the most glaring statistic that stands out. I’ve watched a lot of cricket at this particular ground. Ken, that’s the biggest six I’ve seen. And that’s with some much-wanted international names that have graced this particular field. That was the hook shot of the highest calibre,” the commentator can be heard saying.
South African commentator’s reaction on a monster six by Vaibhav Suryavanshi. 😂 pic.twitter.com/Pe5XxN8e9w
— Gangadhar (@90_andypycroft) January 5, 2026
Sooryavanshi, who is leading the India U19 team in the ongoing series, needed just 19 balls on Monday to reach the 50-run mark, and he added 67 runs from just 37 balls for the first wicket with Aaron George (20 runs from 19 balls).
Fastest 50s in youth ODIs
| PLAYER | COUNTRY | BALLS | AGAINST | VENUE | DATE |
| Steve Stolk | South Africa | 13 | Scotland | Potchefstroom | January 27, 2024 |
| Rishabh Pant | India | 18 | Nepal | Dhaka | February 1, 2016 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | Afghanistan | 19 | New Zealand | Christchurch | January 25, 2018 |
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | India | 19 | South Africa | Benoni | January 5, 2026 |
| Jacob Bethell | England | 20 | South Africa | Saint Peters | January 26, 2022 |
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | India | 20 | England | Northampton | July 2, 2025 |
| Jishan Alam | Bangladesh | 23 | Sri Lanka | Abu Dhabi | March 26, 2023 |
| Theo Wylie | England | 24 | Australia | Hove | September 4, 2023 |
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | India | 24 | Sri Lanka | Sharjah | December 6, 2024 |
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | India | 24 | England | Worcester | July 5, 2025 |
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | India | 25 | Malaysia | Dubai | December 16, 2025 |
| Sameer Minhas | Pakistan | 29 | India | Dubai | December 21, 2025 |
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | India | 30 | UAE | Dubai | December 12, 2025 |
After George’s dismissal on the first ball of the seventh over of the run chase, Vaibhav joined hands with Vedant Trivedi (31 not out from 57 balls) and added just 28 runs from 12 balls. In that partnership, Vaibhav alone scored 23 runs from six balls, and Vedant added 4 from six.
Sooryavanshi was sent back to the pavilion by Michael Kruiskamp on the first ball of the ninth over of the run chase. He was caught by Daniel Bosman, who earlier had completed Aaron’s catch as well.
India won the second youth ODI in Benoni on Monday by 8 wickets via the DLS method to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
