U19 Asia Cup: India ride on Vaibhav Suryavanshi's pyrotechnics to bully UAE by 234 runs in campaign opener

India notched up a colossal 234-run win over hosts UAE in the opening match of the U19 Asia Cup 2025 on December 12, powered by an explosive knock by Vaibhav Suryavanshi.

India thrash UAE by 234 runs in U-19 Asia Cup opener

The 14-year-old batting prodigy from Bihar tonked a blistering 95-ball 171. Suryavanshi showcased his exceptional hitting ability by smashing 14 sixes, setting a new record for the most sixes hit by any batter in a single innings at the U19 level. Further strengthening India’s dominant position were key contributions from Vihaan Malhotra and Aaron George, who both scored 69 runs.

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Vaibhav Suryavanshi wreaks havoc with lightning 171

These collective efforts helped India amass an imposing total of 433 for 6 in their 50 overs. This score stands as India’s highest-ever total in U19 One-Day Internationals, and it is also the highest total recorded in the entire history of the U19 Asia Cup tournament. Faced with this mammoth target, the UAE batting lineup struggled to keep pace. Despite valiant half-centuries from Prithvi Madhu (50) and Uddish Suri, who remained unbeaten on 78, the hosts could only manage 199/7 by the end of their 50 overs, resulting in the commanding win for India.

Suryavanshi's explosive innings, which was studded with nine boundaries, has now entered the record books as the second-highest score by an Indian in youth One-Day Internationals, surpassed only by Ambati Rayudu's unbeaten 177 against England in 2002. Furthermore, it stands as the ninth-highest individual score by any batter in men’s U19 ODIs. After being sent in to bat, the young opener appeared to be in a league of his own, reaching his fifty in just 30 balls and then racing to his century off only 56 deliveries.

Suryavanshi went on to form a dominant 212-run partnership with Aaron George, completely dismantling the UAE bowling attack. His powerful and relentless innings finally concluded in the 33rd over when he was bowled by spinner Uddish Suri. Following his dismissal, the middle-order batsmen successfully maintained the high run rate, with contributions from Vedant Trivedi (38), Abhigyan Kundu (32), and Kanishk Chouhan (28) ensuring India comfortably pushed their total past the formidable 400-run mark.

UAE's deflated chase

Facing a daunting target of 434, the UAE chase got off to a disastrous start, losing two wickets within the first four overs. The quick dismissals of Muhammad Rayan, Ayaan Misbah, and Ahmed Khudadad in the space of just nine balls left the hosts reeling at 48 for 5, effectively extinguishing any realistic chance of a victory. Although Uddish Suri and Prithvi Madhu managed to add 85 runs together to halt the immediate collapse, the severe damage done by the early wickets proved insurmountable and UAE could only post 199/7 to suffer 234-run hammering.