3 min readJun 21, 2026 11:44 AM IST
First published on: Jun 21, 2026 at 10:24 AM IST
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi overturned his indifferent form for India A with a sensational 11-ball fifty, breaking the List A world record for the fastest-ever half-century during the Tri-Nation Series final against Sri Lanka A on Sunday.
FOLLOW LIVE: INDIA-A VS SRI LANKA-A FINAL
Taking guard at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium after Sri Lanka A opted to bowl first, Sooryavanshi charged from the outset, flat-batting Mohamed Shiraz for a boundary on the first ball.
The 15-year-old, who entered the final on the back of a string of low scores and an ugly shoving incident against the opposition earlier this week, turned around the script with a series of sixes and fours. He unfurled his full range in Shiraz’s second over, smashing three sixes and two fours in a 26-run over.
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Sooryavanshi stormed to his fifty in only 11 balls, bludgeoning his fifth six over long-on to break a 20-year-old record for the fastest List A half-century. Previously, Sri Lanka Kaushalya Weeratane held the record for the fastest List A fifty, having struck a half-century in 12 balls for Ragama Cricket Club.
Fastest List A half-centuries by balls
| Balls |
Player |
Team |
Opposition |
Year |
| 11 |
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi |
India A |
Sri Lanka |
2026 |
| 12 |
K Weeraratne |
Ragama Cricket Club v Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club |
Thurstan College Ground, Colombo |
2005/06 |
| 13 |
NLTC Perera |
Sri Lanka Army Sports Club v Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club |
Army Ground, Panagoda |
2020/21 |
| 14 |
RK Kleinveldt |
Western Province v KwaZulu-Natal |
Sahara Stadium Kingsmead, Durban |
2010/11 |
| 15 |
AJ Hollioake |
Surrey v Yorkshire |
North Marine Road, Scarborough |
1994 |
| 15 |
Salman Butt |
National Bank of Pakistan v Lahore Eagles |
Lahore City Cricket Association Ground, Lahore |
2008/09 |
| 15 |
Parvez Hossain |
Abahani Limited v Shinepukur Cricket Club |
Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan No 3 Ground, Savar |
2024/25 |
| 15 |
SN Khan |
Mumbai v Punjab |
Jaipuria Vidyalaya Ground, Jaipur |
2025/26 |
Sooryavanshi bettered the Indian record previously held by Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan who smashed a 15-ball fifty against Punjab in the Vijay Hazare Trophy last season.
The 15-year-old has only featured in 12 List A matches since his debut in December 2024, including a best of 190 for Bihar in the domestic circuit.
Sooryavanshi misses fastest ton!
Continuing the charge even after the milestone, Sooryavanshi stormed towards his maiden List A century, but fell agonisingly short of equalling the record for the fastest List A century. The dashing southpaw holed out to the mid-off fielder off SL-A captain Sahan Arachchige, falling on 94 off 29 deliveries before the opening Powerplay.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in action. (SLC) 
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