NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gave another breathtaking reminder of his extraordinary talent as the 15-year-old Indian batting sensation smashed a record 94 off 29 balls against Sri Lanka A in the Tri-nation final in Dambulla on Sunday.The highlight of his blistering knock was an 11-ball fifty – the fastest in the history of List A cricket – as India A topped Sri Lanka A by 66 runs to lift the title. Sooryavanshi’s innings featured pure carnage from the start, with his first 11 balls reading: 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 0, 6, 4, 4, 6, 6.His 94-run blitz included 10 fours and eight sixes, setting the tone for India A’s massive 377/9 before Sri Lanka A were restricted to 311 in 47.1 overs.
“This is not IPL” explained the viral response
The knock brought added intensity after an ill-tempered previous meeting between the two sides, where Sri Lanka A had defeated India A in a Super Over and tensions flared after the match.During this contest, Sooryavanshi was involved in a heated exchange, with a Sri Lankan player telling him, “This is not IPL” after India A’s Super Over defeat.On Sunday, IPL franchises were quick to relive that moment as the teenager shattered the narrative in spectacular fashion. Rajasthan RoyalsRoyal Challengers Bengaluru, and Delhi Capitals both celebrated the 11-ball fifty on social media, prominently laughing at the phrase “This is not IPL” while hailing Sooryavanshi’s explosive response.The viral backlash turned the phrase into a symbol of redemption, with fans and franchises alike hailing the teenager’s fearless approach on the big stage.
No pressure, just pure destruction
Despite the previous controversy and a mixed run in the tri-series, Sooryavanshi insisted that he played without pressure and only focused on execution.“I didn’t think about anything. I just wanted to execute what I planned,” he said after being named Player of the Match.The teenager, who is gearing up for a potential India T20 debut later this month, credited his coaches for helping him reset after inconsistent outings earlier in the series.
The record talent continues to grow
Sooryavanshi’s 11-ball half-century broke the previous List A record of 12 balls held by Sri Lanka’s Kaushalya Weeraratne since 2005, underlining the scale of his achievement.His knock also saw him miss the List’s fastest century record as he fell for 94 while attempting another big hit, caught in the middle of the ninth over.From dominating the IPL stages earlier in the year to now dismantling bowling attacks in international youth cricket, Sooryavanshi continues to build a reputation as one of India’s most explosive young batsmen.
