Abhigyan Kundu delivered a truly historic performance at the Under-19 Men's Asia Cup on Tuesday, December 16, producing an innings that redefined Indian youth cricket records.
The 17-year-old wicketkeeper-batter became the first Indian to score a double century in Youth ODIs, crafting a remarkable unbeaten 209 against Malaysia at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai.
Kundu's knock placed him in rare company. He is now only the second player in Youth ODI history to cross the 200-run mark, joining South Africa's Jorich van Schalkwyk, who had earlier registered a 215 against Zimbabwe this year. The scale of Kundu's achievement was underlined by the manner in which he reached the milestone - bringing up his double hundred in just 125 deliveries.
Batting with
composure and authority, Kundu combined patience with controlled aggression. His innings was studded with 19 boundaries and seven towering sixes, allowing India Under-19 to post a massive 408 for seven in their allotted 50 overs. The total effectively put the Group A contest beyond Malaysia's reach and showcased India's batting depth in the tournament.
In rewriting the record books, Kundu eclipsed a long-standing Indian mark. His 209* surpassed Ambati Rayudu's unbeaten 177 against England in 2002, a record that had stood for over two decades as the highest individual score by an Indian in Youth ODIs. Only van Schalkwyk now sits above Kundu on the all-time list, placing the young Indian ahead of several notable names in youth cricket history.
Speaking after his innings, Kundu remained grounded, shifting focus quickly to the challenges ahead. He emphasized the importance of converting starts during the knockout phase and expressed a desire to keep raising his own standards. Reflecting on the record, he admitted the moment was special but stressed that improvement remains his constant goal.
Kundu also credited the pitch conditions, noting the consistent pace and bounce. His plan, he explained, was to bat deep, trust his temperament and wait for scoring opportunities rather than forcing the issue early.
His effort adds to a growing list of standout Indian performances in the tournament. Earlier, Vaibhav Suryavanshi's blistering 171 against the UAE had already signaled India's batting strength. Together, these innings underline a promising future for India's Under-19 setup as the Asia Cup progresses.
