14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi continued his purple patch in the ongoing ACC Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025. While India were handed a defeat, Suryavanshi did not curb his instinct to attack. He also responded to Pakistan pacer Ubaid Shah trying to poke him.
The incident took place in the third over of the innings. Suryavanshi played Shah's delivery towards covers. It went to the fielder resulting in a dot ball. On his follow through, Shah stared at the youngster. Suryavanshi gave it back to the Pakistan pacer, saying "Ball daal na, ball daal (Bowl the ball, just bowl the ball" as heard on stump mic.
Suryavanshi let his bat do the talking. On the next delivery, he hit the ball over deep extra cover for a boundary as the crowd cheered at West End Park International Cricket Stadium, Doha on November 16.
Suryavanshi helped India get to the fifty-run mark from six overs. The southpaw hit left-arm chinaman bowler Sufiyan Muqeem for a four and a six in the 10th over before he was caught by Mohammad Faiq. The opener hit five fours and three sixes in his 28-ball 45.
India A suffer collapse after Suryavanshi’s departure
When Suryavanshi departed, India A were 91/3 from 9.4 overs. India A suffered a batting collapse. They were bowled out for 136 in 19 overs. Ramandeep Singh and Harsh Dubey were other two batters who scored in double digits. Skipper Jitesh Sharma and Nehal Wadhera struggled to rotate strike in the middle overs which led to other batters feeling the pressure. Pakistan A won the match by eight wickets with 40 balls to spare.
India A's next clash is against Oman on November 18. A win will ensure a spot in the semifinal which is set to be played on November 21.
Suryavanshi’s record-breaking knock
Before the game against Pakistan A, Suryavanshi tonked 15 sixes in 42-ball 142 against UAE. He reached his century from just 32 balls, joint-third fastest by an India batter in the format. His knock of 144 is the fourth-highest score by an Indian batter in T20s. India A posted 297/4 on the board and won by 148 runs.