IND vs PAK LIVE: Vaibhav Suryavanshi in focus as India eye another masterclass against Pakistan

India registered the highest-ever total in Men’s U19 Asia Cup history, piling up a mammoth 433 for 6 in their tournament opener against UAE at the ICC Academy Ground on Friday.

Teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi starred with a sensational 171, while Aaron George (69) and Vihaan Malhotra (69) chipped in with valuable half-centuries. Late-order contributions from Vedant Trivedi (38), Abhigyan Kundu (32) and Kanishk Chouhan (28) added the finishing touches to India’s record-breaking effort.

In the process, India surpassed their previous best U19 ODI total of 425 for 3, set against Scotland in 2004. The 433 now stands as the third-highest team total in the history of men’s U19 one-day cricket.

The 14-year-old Suryavanshi also rewrote the record books with his blistering 171 off just 95 deliveries, setting a new benchmark for the highest individual score by an Indian in the U19 Asia Cup.

The earlier Indian record in the tournament belonged to Himanshu Rana, who had struck 130 against Afghanistan in Colombo in 2016. Overall, the highest individual score in U19 Asia Cup history remains Soumya Sarkar’s 209 for Bangladesh against Qatar in 2012.

Suryavanshi’s dazzling knock, studded with nine fours, came at a staggering strike rate of 180. He raced to his half-century in 30 balls, brought up his century in only 56 deliveries and reached 150 in just 84 balls. His 14 sixes are also the most by any batter in the tournament’s history, eclipsing Afghanistan’s Darwish Rasooli, who had hit 10 against UAE in 2017.

The young opener was dismissed in the 33rd over with the score reading 265 for 3, providing India with the perfect platform to surge past the 400-run mark.

Earlier this month, Suryavanshi had made headlines by smashing an unbeaten 108 off 61 balls for Bihar against Maharashtra in Kolkata, becoming the youngest centurion in the history of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

At the Rising Stars Asia Cup earlier this year, he had also dazzled with a 144 off just 42 balls for India A against UAE, hammering 11 fours and 15 sixes.

That onslaught saw Suryavanshi rewrite the record books, as he broke the U19 Asia Cup record for the most sixes in a single innings, surpassing Afghanistan’s Darwish Rasooli, who had hit 10 sixes in 2017.

Suryavanshi raced to his century in just 56 deliveries and showed no signs of slowing down, reaching 150 off only 84 balls. His remarkable knock finally ended at 171 off 95 balls, struck at an imposing strike rate of 180.

The 171 now stands as the second-highest individual score by an Indian in Youth ODIs, just behind Ambati Rayudu’s unbeaten 177 against England U19 in 2002.

While Aaron George and Vihaan Malhotra both scored 69, valuable contributions from Vedant Trivedi (38), Abhigyan Kundu (32) and Kanishk Chouhan (28) ensured India finished on a mammoth 433 for 6, setting UAE an imposing target of 434.

The India Under-19 cricket team produced one of the most destructive batting performances in Youth ODI history on Friday, registering the third-highest innings total in the format. India etched their name into the record books by piling up 433 for 6 in 50 overs against UAE in the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2025.

In the process, India U19 bettered their own previous mark of 425 for 3, which had come against Scotland during the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Dhaka in 2004. In that match, Shikhar Dhawan had starred with an unbeaten 155 as Scotland were bundled out for 155, handing India a thumping 270-run victory.

Australia U19 still hold the record for the highest innings total in Youth ODIs, having smashed 480 for 6 against Kenya in Dunedin in 2002. New Zealand U19 sit second on the list after scoring 436 for 4 against Kenya in Christchurch in 2018.

After being sent in to bat by UAE skipper Yayin Rai, India suffered an early setback when captain Ayush Mhatre was dismissed for four in the third over. That wicket brought Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Aaron George together, and the duo soon launched a brutal assault on the UAE bowling attack.

Suryavanshi, who has been in red-hot form, began with composure before unleashing his full range of strokes. He brought up his half-century off just 30 balls and soon shifted into overdrive.

The highlight of his innings was the sheer power on display. The young batter from Bihar punished the UAE bowlers with nine fours and an astonishing 14 sixes.

Suryavanshi’s blistering effort, laced with nine fours, now stands as the second-highest score by an Indian in youth ODIs, behind Ambati Rayudu’s unbeaten 177 against England in 2002, and the ninth-highest individual score in men’s U19 ODIs.

Asked to bat first, the young opener looked in a league of his own, dismantling the UAE attack as he brought up his fifty in just 30 balls and raced to a century off only 56 deliveries.

He then added a mammoth 212-run partnership with George, completely overwhelming the hosts’ bowlers. Suryavanshi’s dazzling innings finally ended in the 33rd over when he was bowled by spinner Suri.

The middle order ensured the momentum did not dip thereafter, with Vedant Trivedi (38), Abhigyan Kundu (32 not out) and Kanishk Chouhan (28) chipping in to push India beyond the coveted 400-run mark.

Chasing an imposing target, UAE lost two wickets inside the first four overs, and the quick removal of Muhammad Rayan, Ayaan Misbah and Ahmed Khudadad in the space of nine balls left them reeling at 48 for 5, effectively sealing the contest.

Although Suri and Madhu combined for an 85-run stand to stem the collapse, the outcome was already beyond doubt.

Hello and welcome to the Live coverage of ACC Men's U19 Asia Cup 2025 match between India and Pakistan.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi produced a masterclass with the bat, hammering a scintillating 171 off just 95 deliveries to propel India to a crushing 234-run victory over hosts UAE in the opening match of the U19 Asia Cup here on Friday. With that statement performance, the spotlight will firmly remain on the young batting prodigy as India prepare for a mouth-watering clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday.

The 14-year-old from Samastipur, Bihar, put on a breathtaking exhibition of power-hitting, smashing 14 sixes — the most by any batter in a single U19 innings — during his sensational knock.

India’s dominance was further underlined by half-centuries from Vihaan Malhotra (69) and Aaron George (69), as the side amassed a colossal 433 for 6 in their 50 overs. The total is India’s highest-ever in U19 ODIs and also the biggest score in the history of the U19 Asia Cup.

In response, UAE were never able to mount a serious challenge, despite valiant fifties from Prithvi Madhu (50) and Uddish Suri (78 not out), and could only reach 199 for 7 in their allotted overs.