Credit: BCCI/Google
The tale of batters who have hit fastet hundreds in youth ODIs makes us cricket fans, armchair experts, analysts and in other cases, simpletons who can't imagine a life sans the sport to appreciate the exuberance of the youth. Cricket, as they say, is a team game but one in which the individual talent and flair holds significant importance- does it not? And when the youngsters go an extra mile to command attention and attract debates by virtue of their skill and deeds, it does become something to take note of.
Take, for instance, several world class batting talents who rather fearlessly and committedly dashed some of the fastest hundreds in youth ODIs and have since then, risen like a shining star to command their own place in the sun. In a sport where batting is quite an art, there have been several commanding centuries hit by youth talents that are about as admirable as they are entertaining.
Here is the list of batters with fastest centuries in Youth ODIs:
1. Vaibhav Suryavanshi (IND) - 52 balls vs England U19
Is there anything that India's Vaibhav Suryavanshi, now a blazing world record maker, cannot do?
The self-confessed Brian Lara fan, just hours ago, romped the England Under-19 side during a rollicking stay at the wicket that resulted in the fastest hundred in youth ODIs.
Taking just first scored a 52-ball-century and later on, completed his inning but not before scoring 143 runs that came off just 78 delveries.
He scored this knock away from the comfort of batting in Indian conditions and smoked 10 sixes. What a player in the works, right?
2. Kamran Ghulam (PAK) - 56 balls vs England U19
Scoring a blazing 102 not out but taking just 56 odd deliveries in doing so, Kamran Ghulam from Pakistan had back in the day in August 2013, to be precise, struck a fantastic century.
The memorble contest that took place at Leicester saw Pakistan Under-19 scoring 369 for the loss of 7 wickets, of which, Ghulam scored 102 off his own, still the fastest hundred in youth ODIs from Pakistan's stable.
The next highest score at his team's end was the 71 that was scored by Hasan Raza, another promising Pakistan cricketer at that time whose best days were ahead of him.
At this point in time, Ghulam is 29 year old and has already represented his team in six Tests and 11 one-dayers. As a matter of fact, he had made his Test debut last year for Pakistan.
3. Tamim Iqbal (BAN) - 68 balls vs England U19
A brilliant and calm left hander, someone who arguably speaking, was about as poetic and elegant with the bat as was Pakistan's Saeed Anwar, Tamim Iqbal has hit one of the finest and fastest hundreds in youth ODIs.
The brilliant left-hander formed for the longest time a part of a glowing Bangladeshi troika of talents; the other two being Shakib-al-Hasan and the great Mushfiqur. But back in the days of the yore, when he was quite young, Tamim smoked England for a gritty and fluent 68-ball-century, which was a terrific hundred that starred in a tri-nation tournament held against the vastly competitive English team in the year 2005.
In the years to follow, a great player of the cover and the square drive, among other strokes would become a mainstay of the Bangladeshi batting line-up.
4. Raj Angad Bawa (IND) - 69 balls v Uganda U19
Raj Angad Bawa has hit one of the fastest hundreds in youth ODIs and as on date, his three figure mark, now bettered by none other than a fellow Indian, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, still ranks and stands among the fastest hundreds in youth ODIs.
But what was impressive and important in the case of Raj Angad Bawa was that his famous century actually came in the Under-19 World Cup that took place two years back in the day in which the opposing team, Uganda were completely caught unaware of the batter's big striking abilities.
Though just 22, Raj Angad Bawa, who happens to be a promising name from the region of Himachal Pradesh happens to have played 11 first-class contests and functions as an all rounder in the sport.
5. Shaun Marsh (AUS) - 70 balls vs Kenya U19
Shaun Marsh is still considered- and rightly so- one of the most promising and formidable left handers to have ever played for Australia. But his tale of noted success in his Under-19 days takes us way back in time to the year 2002, wherein in a world cup group stage game against the Kenyans, the left-hander batted brilliantly at Dunedin and scored a fantastic century.
It was thanks to Marsh' superb 125 run knock that came off just 81 odd deliveries that his Australian side put on a whopping 480 run total off the 50 overs. During that exciting knock, Marsh had hit 12 fours and four sixes.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ):
Q1. How many Indian batters are on the list of fastest hundreds in youth ODIs?
There are two at present, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a known face from Rajasthan Royals camp and Raj Angad Bawa.
Q2. How many deliveries did it take Vaibhav Suryavanshi to hit the fastest hundred in Youth ODIs?
It took the blazing leftie 52 deliveries to hit a century against England Under-19.
Q3. Which Australian batter is also on this list?
Shaun Marsh, a treasured batter from Australia scored a 69-ball century vs Kenya in youth ODIs.
