Some cricketing stories arrive quietly, without hype or expectation, and then explode into something unforgettable. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s debut for India A in Doha was one such moment. Until now, the young left-hander was known only to keen domestic watchers but by Friday evening, he had become the name everyone wanted to Google. With a breathtaking 144 runs off just 42 balls, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi didn’t just announce his arrival, he roared into the spotlight.
Playing his first T20 match for India A against the United Arab Emirates on November 14, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi opened the innings with a confidence that surprised even seasoned fans. His strike rate soared to 343 as he smashed 11 fours and an incredible 15 sixes, turning the West End Park International Cricket Stadium into his own hitting zone. He reached his fifty in just 17 deliveries and raced to his maiden T20 century in only 32 balls, showing a level of clean, fearless hitting rarely seen at this level.
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His partnership with Naman Dhir added another layer to his knock. Together, they stitched a 163-run stand for the second wicket, with Naman Dhir contributing 34 runs off 23 balls while largely playing the supporting role. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s innings finally came to an end in the 13th over, when an attempted big hit found the hands of Ahmed Tariq off bowler Muhammad Farazuddin. But by then, he had already rewritten the record books.
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His 144 not only made him the first cricketer ever to score a T20 century for India A but it also shattered the previous highest score – Ajinkya Rahane’s 79 against West Indies A in 2012. The century in 32 balls also made Vaibhav Sooryavanshi the joint fourth fastest batter in world cricket to reach a hundred in T20s, placing him among elite global performers.
Captain Jitesh Sharma also had his moment, hammering an unbeaten 83 off 32 balls, but the day undeniably belonged to the young man from Bihar whose fearless batting electrified the stadium and instantly elevated expectations.
For India A, the match will be remembered as a win. For Indian cricket, though, it may be remembered as the day a new star took his first giant leap.
