Fifteen-year-old batting sensation
Sooryavanshi, aged 15 years and 157 days, etched his name into the record books by becoming the youngest player to register a half-century in the tournament. He surpassed the long-standing record held by Laxman Singh, who was 16 years and 23 days old when he achieved the feat in January 1969. His innings, which spanned just 81 balls and 118 minutes, was defined by a blend of raw power and calculated aggression.
A Statement Performance in the Red-Ball Format
Entering the match with 215 runs from nine first-class appearances since his 2024 Ranji Trophy debut, Sooryavanshi was eager to prove his capabilities in the longer format. He wasted little time in asserting his dominance, particularly against the pace attack. After an initial single, he found his rhythm with a square drive, eventually taking the attack to bowlers like Yash Thakur, whom he struck for a six straight back over the bowler’s head.
The teenager’s range of shots was on full display throughout his stay at the crease. He reached his fifty off just 42 balls, punctuated by a massive six over long-on. Even after being handed a reprieve on 40 when Yash Rathod dropped a catch off Saransh Jain, the youngster remained composed. He continued to dismantle the bowling, including a notable assault on Aryan Pandey and a confident display against spinner Saransh Jain.
East Zone Levels the Playing Field
Sooryavanshi’s partnership with Abhimanyu Easwaran, who contributed 69, proved vital for East Zone. The duo combined for a 161-run opening stand that provided the foundation for the team to match Central Zone’s first-innings score of 266. Sooryavanshi’s pursuit of a maiden first-class century ended in disappointment, however, when he was caught by Arshad Khan at deep mid-wicket off the bowling of Harsh Dubey, falling just eight runs short of the milestone.
Following the conclusion of the first innings, Central Zone faced a challenging period before stumps, finishing the day at 45/3. Mukesh Kumar was the standout performer for East Zone with the ball, claiming 2/14. With the scores level, the match remains finely poised heading into the next phase of the semifinal. Harsh Dubey led the bowling effort for Central Zone, finishing with figures of 4/66, while Aryan Pandey and Yash Thakur claimed three wickets each.
