Dambulla, June 21: Indian cricket's newest sensation added another remarkable chapter to his rapidly growing story on Sunday (June 21) in Dambulla, smashing
the fastest fifty in List A cricket history before narrowly missing out on the fastest century ever recorded in the format.
The 15-year-old prodigy from Bihar lit up the tri-series final between India A and Sri Lanka A in Dambulla with a breathtaking assault that left bowlers helpless and record books in tatters.
Sooryavanshi blasted 94 runs off just 29 deliveries, reaching his half-century in a staggering 11 balls to break a record that had stood for 21 years.
While he fell six runs short of a century, he missed equalling the fastest List A hundred in history by just one shot, making his innings one of the most explosive knocks ever witnessed in one-day cricket.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Hits Fastest List A Fifty in History
Before Sunday, Sri Lanka's Kaushalya Weeraratne held the record for the fastest List A fifty, having reached the milestone in 12 balls while playing for Ragama Cricket Club in 2005. Sooryavanshi went one better.
The teenager raced to 50 in only 11 deliveries, rewriting cricket history in spectacular fashion.
Fastest Fifties in List A Cricket History
| Balls | Player | Team | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | India A | 2026 |
| 12 | Kaushalya Weeraratne | Ragama Cricket Club | 2005 |
| 13 | Thisara Perera | Sri Lanka Army Sports Club | 2021 |
| 14 | Rory Kleinveldt | Western Province | 2010 |
| 15 | Adam Hollioake | Surrey | 1994 |
Salman Butt (2008), Parvez Hossain (2024) and Sarfaraz Khan (2025) also reached their fifties in 15 balls.
Before Sooryavanshi's stunning effort, Sarfaraz Khan held the Indian record with a 15-ball fifty in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
One Shot Away from Another World Record
As remarkable as the fifty was, Sooryavanshi was threatening an even bigger milestone. The left-hander stormed to 94 off 29 balls and was within touching distance of Jake Fraser-McGurk's world record for the fastest List A century, achieved in just 29 balls.
When Sooryavanshi was dismissed in the ninth over, India A had already raced to 132 runs. Had he managed one more boundary before getting out, he could have equalled Fraser-McGurk's record and completed one of the greatest one-day innings ever played.
Fastest Hundreds in List A Cricket
| Balls | Player | Team | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | Jake Fraser-McGurk | South Australia | 2024 |
| 33 | Ricky Ponting | Australia | 1996 |
| 35 | Saeed Anwar | Pakistan | 1997 |
| 36 | AB de Villiers | Titans | 2015 |
| 37 | Shubman Gill | India A | 2019 |
Sooryavanshi's 94 came off exactly 29 deliveries, underlining just how close he came to matching Fraser-McGurk's historic mark.
A Knock Filled with Brutal Power
The innings was a masterclass in fearless strokeplay. The Rajasthan Royals' wonder-kid struck 10 fours and eight sixes during his 29-ball stay at the crease.
His intent was visible from the very first over. The opening five deliveries he faced produced three boundaries and two sixes as he immediately put Sri Lanka A's bowlers under pressure.
He initially targeted the leg side before adapting quickly when the field was changed, showcasing maturity beyond his years by repeatedly clearing extra cover with effortless power.
His half-century arrived in style with consecutive sixes off pacer Dulaj Samuditha. Among the standout moments were three towering sixes over extra cover, strokes that highlighted his exceptional bat speed and timing.
A Statement Before India Debut?
The innings arrives at a significant moment in Sooryavanshi's career. The teenager is set to join India's senior T20 squad for the upcoming white-ball tour of Ireland and England, earning his maiden national call-up after a breakthrough IPL campaign and impressive performances at the India A level.
His latest innings serves as another reminder of why Indian cricket views him as one of its brightest prospects.
Earlier in the tri-series, Sooryavanshi was involved in a heated exchange with Sri Lanka A players following on-field sledging, but on Sunday he let his bat do the talking. And what a statement it was.
