Vaibhav Sooryavanshi believes that his maiden century has given him the confidence he needs after a rocky start in international cricket. The 15-year-old announced his arrival in style with an 18-ball 50 against Zimbabwe in the opening T20I in Harare on Thursday, becoming the youngest player to score a 50 in men’s international cricket. The knock marked a dramatic turnaround for the young opener, who endured a disappointing series against England. Sooryavanshi managed just 42 runs in his first three T20I innings, scoring 14 off 10 balls, 13 deliveries and 15 off 10 balls. After helping India secure a seven-wicket victory over Zimbabwe and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, Sooryavanshi said the innings has played a big role in boosting his confidence as he embarks on his international tour. “When you are in the starting phase of your career, and you get those kind of innings at the start, you gain confidence for the next game. It seemed like I was in my zone and I played my best,” Sooryavanshi said in a video posted by the BCCI. At the age of 15 years and 118 days, Sooryavanshi surpassed the previous record held by Sachin Tendulkar. The Indian batting legend was 16 years and 213 days old when he scored his 50th international against Pakistan in the Faisalabad Test in 1989. Harare has become an unforgettable place for the youth. Earlier this year, he lit up the same spot with 175 from 80 balls against England in the final of the 2026 Under-19 World Cup. A few months later, he returned to the same venue to play another innings that showed his immense potential. Despite being very happy in Harare, Sooryavanshi insisted that he is not taking any position or opportunity lightly and is focused on making good contributions wherever he plays. “There are certain places where you like to make runs, I don’t take it for granted, I just try to play wherever I can, give my best, help the team and do well,” he said. The youngster also acknowledged the role played by those who supported him in his development, giving a big role to his family and coaches. “I dedicate myself to my family, to my coaches, to everyone who supported me on my journey,” he concluded. Sooryavanshi’s scintillating knock laid the foundation for India to chase Zimbabwe down to 125 for seven, as the visitors sealed victory by seven wickets and secured the lead in the three-match T20I series.
