Kohli, Tendulkar Hail India U-19's Historic Sixth World Cup Win

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-02-07

Cricket legends like Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar didn't hold back their praise. They were celebrating something special last Thursday. India's Under-19 team didn't just win a World Cup. They clinched their *sixth* title, beating England by a whopping 100 runs in the final over in Harare. And the story of the day? A 14-year-old named Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He smashed 175 runs off just 80 balls, including 15 sixes. It was one of those innings that breaks records for fun and leaves you just shaking your head in disbelief. ### A Record-Shattering Performance Let's talk about that knock for a second. Sooryavanshi walked in and tore the English bowling attack apart. Hitting 15 sixes in a final is insane at any level. He also blasted 15 fours. His 175 is now the highest individual score in an Under-19 World Cup final, and he got there in record time. He reached his century in 55 balls. His 150 came up in just 71. That's the fastest 150 in the tournament's history. At 14, he's also the youngest player to ever score 150 or more in a final. Captain Ayush Mhatre played a perfect supporting role, adding 53 runs in their 142-run partnership that set the game alight.  ### Putting Up a Mountain of Runs India finished their 50 overs with a staggering total of 411 for nine. That's the highest total ever posted in an Under-19 World Cup final. It put England under immense pressure right from the start of their chase. England did try to fight back. Caleb Falconer played a brilliant innings himself, scoring 115 off 67 balls. Ben Dawkins (66) and Mayes (45) chipped in, but wickets kept falling at the other end. India's bowlers kept it tight, with RS Ambrish taking three wickets and Deepesh Devendran picking up two. England was eventually bowled out for 311.  ### Legends Recognize the Future The tributes poured in from the very top. Virat Kohli, who captained India to the U-19 title back in 2008, led the congratulations. His message about India's continued domination carries real weight—he's lived that journey from teenage champion to global superstar. Head coach Gautam Gambhir said the win points to a incredibly bright future for Indian cricket. Suryakumar Yadav praised Sooryavanshi's mentality, while Ravichandran Ashwin called it "fearless, modern white-ball cricket." Even international stars took notice. Former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn predicted IPL success for the young star, and West Indies legend Ian Bishop applauded India's discipline and cricket intelligence throughout the entire tournament. ### Building a Dynasty Think about this for a second. This is India's *sixth* Under-19 World Cup title. No other country has won more than three. The team went through the entire tournament unbeaten, topping their group and winning every knockout match convincingly. - **2000:** First title - **2008:** Kohli's famous win - **2012, 2018, 2022:** Building the dynasty - **2026:** The record-breaking sixth It's more than just a trophy. It's a proven pipeline. Players from these teams consistently become stars for the senior national side. We're talking about Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, and Prithvi Shaw. They all honed their skills on this very stage. Sooryavanshi's explosive 175-run innings didn't just win a game; it announced the arrival of a potential generational talent. With legends applauding from the sidelines and a system that keeps producing winners, the future of Indian cricket looks as bright as ever.