Former India spinner R Ashwin hailed 14-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after his stunning 175 in the U-19 World Cup final, calling him a rare big-match prodigy. Highlighting his tournament-leading runs and explosive strike rate, Ashwin said fans shouldn’t be surprised if Vaibhav earns an international call-up soon after the T20 World Cup.
India’s campaign at the Badminton Asia Team Championships ended in the quarterfinals as both teams suffered defeats on Friday. The defending women’s champions lost 0-3 to a second-string China in the absence of PV Sindhu. The men’s team also exited after a 1-3 loss to Korea, missing Lakshya Sen and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, with missed opportunities and injuries hurting India’s chances.
As the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 begins on Saturday across venues in India and Sri Lanka, the tournament marks another chapter in a competition that began 19 years ago. From its first edition in South Africa in 2007 to the 2024 event in the USA and Caribbean, the T20 World Cup has seen the format grow in scale and reach.
Fourteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced a breathtaking knock in the U-19 World Cup final, smashing the second-fastest century in tournament history off just 55 balls against England. He went on to score 175, dominating the bowlers, sharing a huge partnership, and earning a standing ovation for one of the greatest U-19 innings ever.