On a sweltering day at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, India’s U-19 cricket team asserted their dominance in the first Youth Test against Australia U-19. Opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi (81 batting) mesmerized the crowd with his exquisite strokeplay, guiding India to a commanding 103 for no loss at the end of day one.
Australia’s bowlers had earlier toiled hard, but India’s batsmen proved too resilient. Leg-spinner Mohamed Enaan (3/48) led the charge, dismissing Steve Hogan and Simon Budge, while pacers N. Samarth (3/49) and Aditya Rawat (2/50) chipped in with crucial wickets.
Riley Kingsell (53) and Oliver Peake (29) provided some resistance for Australia, but India’s bowlers maintained a tight grip on the proceedings. Christian Howe (48) and Aidan O’Connor (61) briefly threatened to revive the visitors’ innings with a 98-run seventh-wicket stand, but Aditya’s timely dismissals ended their hopes.
With only a couple of batters remaining, Samarth cleaned up the tail as Vaibhav took over and asserted his authority in India’s reply. The right-hander showcased his full repertoire of shots, dispatching boundaries with ease and punishing loose deliveries with disdain.
Suryavanshi’s innings was a masterclass in batting, as he played with confidence and composure. He found the gaps with precision, drove through the covers with elegance, and pulled with power. His unbeaten knock has put India in a commanding position heading into day two.
