Teenage cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has created history in the Duleep Trophy, becoming the youngest player ever to score a half-century in the tournament. The 15-year-old achieved the feat during East Zone’s semifinal against Central Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1 in Bengaluru on Monday.
Sooryavanshi reached his fifty in just 42 balls, announcing his arrival in spectacular fashion. He completed the milestone by hitting a six off Central Zone spinner Saransh Jain. At 15 years and 157 days, the young left-hander broke a record that had stood for 57 years.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Breaks Laxman Singh’s Record
The previous record was held by Laxman Singh, who scored a Duleep Trophy half-century in 1969 at the age of 16 years and 23 days. Sooryavanshi comfortably surpassed that mark, becoming the youngest batter to reach fifty in the competition.
Piyush Chawla is third on the list, having scored a Duleep Trophy fifty at the age of 16 years and 307 days.
Sooryavanshi's achievement adds another impressive chapter to his rapidly developing cricket career.
Missed Century By Just Eight Runs
While Sooryavanshi broke the half-century record, he narrowly missed another major milestone. The youngster was dismissed for a superb 92 runs off 81 balls, falling just eight runs short of a maiden Duleep Trophy century.
His innings included seven fours and seven sixes, showcasing the attacking style that has made him one of India's most closely watched young cricketers. He also shared a valuable 162-run opening partnership with Abhimanyu Easwaran, giving East Zone an excellent platform in the semifinal.
Sachin Tendulkar’s Record Remains Safe
Had Sooryavanshi converted his 92 into a century, he would have broken another historic Duleep Trophy record.
The record for the youngest Duleep Trophy centurion still belongs to Sachin Tendulkar, who scored a century during the 1990-91 season at the age of 17 years and 262 days. Sooryavanshi came within touching distance but was dismissed before reaching the landmark.
Another Leadership Opportunity
The semifinal has been particularly eventful for Sooryavanshi. Earlier in the match, he briefly took over as stand-in captain for East Zone after regular skipper Ishan Kishan left the field following an injury to his right wrist.
During his short stint as captain, Sooryavanshi also made an important DRS call that resulted in the dismissal of Central Zone opener Aryan Juyal. The review confirmed an edge and gave East Zone a crucial breakthrough.
At just 15, Sooryavanshi has already demonstrated batting ability, bowling skills and leadership potential. His latest Duleep Trophy performance further strengthens his reputation as one of India's most exciting young cricket prospects.
Note: Match statistics are based on the latest available reports and may be updated as the Duleep Trophy semifinal progresses
