WATCH: 6, 6, 6, 6… 50 in 18 balls, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi EXPLODES, creates another WORLD RECORD with…
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's explosive maiden fifty sets up India win in first T20I vs Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club on Thursday.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi celebrates after scoring his maiden fifty in 1st T20I vs Zimbabwe. (Source: X)
IND vs ZIM 2026 1st T20: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi came into the first T20I match vs Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday with a huge burden of expectations. After three successive failures, he had been dropped by the Indian side in England, but gave a fitting reply on his comeback into the playing 11. The 15-year-old prodigy smashed his maiden international fifty off only 18 balls with 4 sixes and 4 fours to decimate the Zimbabwean attack and help India post their first victory to end a seven-game win-less streak.
Sooryavanshi, who had become youngest-ever Indian to play for Team India in England, created a new world record by becoming the youngest to score an international fifty. At 15 years and 118 days, Sooryavanshi broke the record of Nepal's Kushal Malla who had scored his maiden fifty at age of 15 years and 340 days vs USA in 2020.
The Rajasthan Royals opener also became the youngest Indian batter to score a fifty in international cricket, breaking the record of legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who had scored his maiden Test fifty vs Pakistan at the age of 16 years and 213 days in Faislabad in 1989.
WATCH Vaibhav Sooryavanshi complete his maiden T20I fifty vs Zimbabwe HERE
Chasing a modest 126 to win, Sooryavanshi got Team India off to a flying start with two sixes and a four in the second over bowled by Richard Ngarava in which he conceded 20 runs. The Indians lost the wicket of world No. 2 batter and Sooryavanshi's opening partner early dismissed for just 1 by Blessing Muzarabani.
Sooryavanshi then took over the proceeding in the company of world No. 1 T20I batter Ishan Kishan at the other end. Soon after the first wicket, Sooryavanshi hammered a six and a four off Brad Evans to get 12 off the over and then smashed wicket-taker Muzarabani for 2 fours and a six as 17 runs came off the next over.
The Bihar teenager brought up his fifty with a couple of Richard Ngarava but fell almost immediately, caught by debutant Ben Curran for an even 50. Sooryavanshi's explosive knock powered India to 68 in only 6.2 over and made the chase a dawdle for Shreyas Iyer's side.
Ishan Kishan hammered a couple of six in his aggressive knock of 35 off 24 balls before falling to Muzarabani with only 12 needed to win. Captain Iyer remained unbeaten on 28 off 24 balls with 3 fours while his deputy Tilak Varma remained 6 not out as Indians won by seven wickets with more than six overs to spare.
It was Iyer's maiden win as Indian T20I skipper even as created a new Indian record by winning eight tosses in a row. It was also India's first win since clinching the T20 World Cup 2026 title in March this year.
Earlier, Mayank Yadav became the 4th Indian bowler after Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh to claim a wicket off his first ball multiple times in T20I cricket. Playing his first T20I match after October 2024, Mayank claimed 2/18 in his 4 overs.
Prince Yadav also chipped in with 2/29 while Ravi Bishnoi and Shivam Dube picked up a wicket each as Zimbabwe were restricted to 125 for 7 after being sent into bat. For the home team, all-rounder Wessly Madhevere top-scored with 39 off 34 balls while wicketkeeper Tadiwanashe Marumani remained unbeaten on 27 off 20 balls.
Indian debutant Ashok Sharma went wicket-less in the innings after conceding 29 runs in 4 overs.
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