Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025: Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s quickfire century fires India A to commanding win over UAE

Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s stunning century powered India A to a commanding 148-run victory over UAE in their opening Group B game of the Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025 at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Friday.

Riding on 14-year-old Suryavanshi’s blistering 144 off 42 balls, India A piled up 297/4 in 20 overs.

Muhammad Rohid, who returned 0/40 from four overs, finished as the most economical bowler in a UAE attack which struggled to contain Indian batters throughout the innings.

The Indian bowlers then tightened the screws early and despite a fighting 63 from Sohaib Khan, UAE were restricted to 149/7 in 20 overs. Gurjapneet Singh, with figures of 3/18 from four overs, was the top wicket-taker for the Indian cricket team.

The result lifted India A to the top of Group B standings. Pakistan Shaheens also won earlier in the day against Oman by 40 runs but trail India A on Net Run Rate.

India A and Pakistan Shaheens will next meet in a high-stakes encounter on Sunday. Each side will play three matches in the group, with the top two moving to the semi-finals.

Earlier in the day, India A won the toss and opted to bat. Suryavanshi, dropped off the very first ball, made UAE pay heavily as he lit up the venue with an extraordinary innings featuring 11 fours and 15 sixes at a strike rate of 342.85.

Suryavanshi’s 32-ball century - the joint-second fastest by an Indian in men’s T20 cricket - set the tone for India A’s dominance before his dismissal in the 13th over.

Urvil Patel and Abhishek Sharma jointly hold the record for the fastest century by any Indian player in T20 cricket, reaching the milestone in just 28 balls. Rishabh Pant also struck a 32-ball ton for Delhi in 2018.

Overall, Suryavanshi’s effort stands as the joint-fifth fastest hundred in men’s T20 cricket.

Skipper Jitesh Sharma kept the onslaught going at the death, smashing an unbeaten 83 off 32 balls, including eight fours and six sixes, to push India A to 297 - the joint fifth-highest team total in men's T20 cricket.

For UAE, Mohammed Faraazuddin (1/64), Aayan Afzal Khan (1/42) and Muhammad Arfan (1/57) picked up a wicket each.

India struck regularly with the ball too with Harsh Dubey and Gurjapneet Singh reducing the UAE to 48/4 inside eight overs. A fighting knock of 63 off 41 balls from Sohaib Khan helped them reach 149/7 in their 20 overs.

Click here to read article