In a touching tribute to one of India cricket’s greats, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi has caught the attention of fans and pundits alike by donning the iconic No. 18 jersey—famously worn by Virat Kohli—during the first Youth Test between India U19 and England U19. This moment comes just months after Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket, adding an emotional edge to the young prodigy’s rise.
Currently touring England with the India U19 team for a multi-format series, the left-handed batter has already made a strong impression. Suryavanshi scored 355 runs across five Youth ODIs at a strike rate of 206.55, playing a pivotal role in India’s 3-2 series win. He struck a magnificent 143 off 78 balls in the fourth ODI at Worcester and was awarded the “Super Striker of the Season” for his consistent fireworks with the bat.
A new nunber 18 in whtes – Suryavanshi to bowl in beckenham pic.twitter.com/EvYEz9E4Wf
— Rohit Juglan (@rohitjuglan) July 15, 2025
While Suryavanshi previously wore jersey No. 12 during IPL 2025—where he smashed the fastest century in the tournament’s history (101 off 38 balls for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans)—his decision to switch to No. 18 in red-ball cricket is seen by many as a symbolic passing of the torch.
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In the Youth Test, Suryavanshi overcame a modest 14-run effort in the first innings to slam a confident 56 off 44 balls in the second. His knock, which included nine boundaries and a six, came at a crucial stage and showcased his maturity far beyond his years.
His contributions weren’t limited to the bat. He created history by becoming the youngest player (14 years and 107 days) to take a wicket in Youth Test cricket, finishing with figures of 2/35 and notably dismissing England U19 captain Hamza Shaikh. The match ended in a draw, with India posting 540 in the first innings and England replying with 439.
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India made 248 in their second dig, while England finished on 270/7. With a mix of flair, maturity, and a touch of symbolism, Vaibhav Suryavanshi is quickly carving his own path while honouring his hero. All eyes will be on the young star when the second Youth Test begins on July 20.
