Vaibhav Sooryavanshi needs 6 runs in Under-19 World Cup 2026 clash vs USA to surpass Virat Kohli on most youth ODI runs for India

India’s teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is on the cusp of achieving major personal milestone in the Under-19 World Cup 2026 clash. Sooryavanshi needs six more runs to surpass former Under-19 World Cup-winning captain Virat Kohli on the list of highest run-scorers for India in youth ODIs.

Kohli had scored 978 runs from 28 youth ODIs at an average of 46.57, featuring a century and six fifties.

Sooryavanshi has scored 973 runs from 18 youth ODIs at an average of 54.05, including three centuries and four half-centuries. His strike rate is 164.08. The 14-year-old needs 27 runs in the clash against the USA to become seventh India batter to score 1,000 or more runs in youth ODIs.

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India batters with 1,000 or more runs in youth ODIs

For India, the record for most runs in youth ODIs belongs to Vijay Zol who has scored 1,404 runs. He is followed by Yashasvi Jaiswal (1,386 runs), Tanmay Srivastava (1,316 runs), Shubman Gill (1,149 runs), Unmukt Chand (1,149 runs) and Sarfaraz Khan (1,080 runs). Overall, the record belongs to Bangladesh's Najmul Hossain Shanto who has 1,820 runs from 58 youth ODIs at an average of 37.91, including two centuries and 12 fifties.

Sooryavanshi’s recent form

The 14-year-old has been in form of late. After a 190-run score in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025-26 clash against Arunachal Pradesh, he captained India against South Africa, the preparatory series for the mega tournament. After an 11-run knock in the series opener, he scored 68 in the second game. In the final game of the series, he scored a blistering 127. In the warm-up game against Scotland, he scored a quickfire 96 but fell for a single against England.

India’s U19 World Cup schedule -

India are in Group A alongside USA, Bangladesh and New Zealand. All the games will be played at Bulawayo's Queens Sports Club. After the campaign opener on January 15, the clash against Bangladesh on January 17. A week later, they will take on New Zealand.