Cricket has always been a sport that has seen an increasing craze amongst the citizens of India, generation by generation. Along with the ever-evolving craze of the sport, this game has given and recognized young talents in India in the youth circuit. In today’s cricket, there is a new name that is in the spotlight, and the name is none other than Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
At such a young age, Vaibhav has chiselled his name in history by smashing the records for the most sixes in Under-19 One-day Internationals (Youth ODIs). He has outperformed the long-standing total of Unmukt Chand and has confirmed himself as the new six-hitting sensation. Let us now dive into his cricket journey, his record-breaking innings, his playing style, and what this means for the future of Indian Cricket.
The Record at a Glance
- In the recent U19 cricket match between India U19 vs. Australia U19, the second Youth ODI, Vaibhav Suryavanshi scored 70 runs, which included six towering sixes.
- With such a great inning, his total tally of sixes in Youth ODI rose to 41. He achieved this in just 10 innings.
- This helped Vaibhav overtake Unmukt Chand’s record of 38 sixes, which he has accumulated over 21 innings.
The Innings and His Playing Style
Vaibhav’s record-breaking knock was more than just about the big shots:
- He began playing discreetly, while making sure he adjusted to the pitch conditions before accelerating his game. Once set and comfortable with the pitch conditions, he launched onto the Australian bowlers with ruthless intent.
- Along with six sixes, Vaibhav also hit five fours, showing that his batting is not just limited to power hitting alone.
- He had an approach that was balanced with patience and aggression. Rotating the strike when needed, then capitalising on loose deliveries with fearless shots over the boundary.
The quality of adaptability sets Vaibhav apart from many young batters who rely purely on power.
Breaking Unmukt Chand’s Benchmark
Unmukt Chand, a former Indian U19 captain, set the six-hitting benchmark more than a decade ago. His record stood unbroken and tall for years, until Vaibhav smashed Unmukt’s records:
- Chand, in his U19 cricketing career, hit 38 sixes in the Youth ODIs, but he took 21 innings to reach that mark.
- While Vaibhav, on the other hand, smashed 41 sixes in just 10 innings, making him and his achievements far more explosive and efficient.
This statistical leap not only highlights Vaibhav’s raw power but also shows his ability to dominate at such a young age.
A Look at the Numbers
Here’s how Vaibhav is compared to the other top Under-19 six-hitters:
| Player | Team | Innings | Sixes |
| Vaibhav Suryavanshi | India U19 | 10 | 41 |
| Unmukt Chand | India U19 | 21 | 38 |
| Zavad Abrar | Bangladesh U19 | 22 | 35 |
It is clear through this table that Vaibhav’s strike rate of six-hitting is unparalleled in the youth format.
Challenges Ahead
As promising as this record and game are, they bring along with themselves the challenges:
- Consistency: Striking sixes is spectacular, but having and maintaining the same form across all the cricket formats will be the real test.
- Opposition strategy: Now that Vaibhav’s six-hitting ability is well-known by the cricket spectators and other players, bowlers can come up with strategies to curb his power game.
- Pressure of expectations: At such a young age, being recognised as the “next big thing ” in the cricket world can be overwhelming. Handling the mental pressure will be as crucial as improving the technical skills.
Future Prospects
The sky is the limit for Vaibhav Suryavanshi:
- Domestic & IPL opportunities: With such an explosive batting career at such a young age, it is only a matter of time before the domestic selectors and the IPL scouts take notice. Vaibhav has already shown his skills in IPL 2025 while playing for the Rajasthan Royals. His ability to clear the boundaries effortlessly makes him an ideal T20 prospect.
- India A and beyond: If Vaibhav is supported properly, then he could follow the path of U19 stars like Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who have successfully transformed their U19 cricket career into senior cricket careers.
- Skill development: Beyond the power, he will need to fine-tune his techniques and learn to counter swing and spin in tough conditions and develop match awareness.
If he balances his raw aggression with maturity, then India may have a future superstar already in the cricket world.
Conclusion
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s achievement of hitting the most sixes in Youth ODIs is not just a statistical milestone but a statement of intent. 41 sixes in 10 innings is a feat that has redefined the standards of batting in the attack mode in youth cricket. By surpassing Unmukt Chand’s long-standing record, Vaibhav has announced himself as the new powerhouse of India’s next generation. The road ahead is challenging for Vaibhav, but if he continues on this trajectory, then very soon, Vaibhav could become a name that will not only be associated with Under-19 cricket but also with the highest levels of the game. For now, one thing is very clear: In the world of U19 six-hitting, Vaibhav Suryanvanshi stands alone at the top.
