Sachin Tendulkar gives special shoutout to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Virat Kohli erupts in joy after India win U19 World Cup

Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli were among the many to congratulate Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and India's World Cup-winning Under-19 team.

Updated on: Feb 7, 2026, 06:59:04 IST

Written by Aditya Bhattacharya

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As if he wasn’t before, but Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the toast of the nation following India’s memorable Under-19 World Cup. The Indian colts, captained by Ayush Mhatre, and highlighted by Sooryavanshi’s career-defining 175, powered India to a mammoth 411/9, a total that proved to be more than enough as England, the runners-up, were bowled out for 311. The 100-run win meant that India emerged winners of the Under-19 World Cup for a record-extending sixth time. SIX. Yes, let that sink in.

If you are Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, what more do you want than Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli to shower praise? (AFP Images)

Also Read: India win sixth Under-19 World Cup after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s once-in-a-lifetime knock destroys England

With this, Mhatre joined the who’s who of Indian cricket to have led the country to a U19 World Cup title. Mohammed Kaif did it for the first time in the year 2000, followed by Virat Kohli in 2008, Unmukt Chand in 2012, Prithvi Shaw in 2018, and Yash Dhull in 2022. And on this occasion, who better than the biggest of them all, Kohli, to light up the day and make this feat even sweeter? The former India captain, visibly delighted, sent his wishes to the winning team from London.

Also Read: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is not the next Sachin Tendulkar – and with all due respect, he doesn’t need to be

Kohli reacts

“Congratulations to the U-19 Indian team for lifting the World Cup once again. Our domination in the age-group cricket and beyond continues. Well done to the whole squad and the support staff,” Kohli posted on X.

However, for Sooryavanshi, who broke all kinds of records on the day, Kohli’s post was bettered by none other than the man he is being compared to. Yes, the legendary Sachin Tendulkar reserved special mention for the 14-year-old, lavishing praise on the group of winners who hoisted the national flag in Zimbabwe.

Sachin's ‘blockbuster’ post for Sooryavanshi

“Champions! So proud of this young group and the fearless cricket they played. Well done to the entire team, including coaches and support staff. Enjoy the moment! When you have a Sooryavanshi, a timeless blockbuster is expected! Well done, Vaibhav,” wrote the Master Blaster.

If there’s one player who knows what it is like to deal with pressure and expectations from a young age, it’s Tendulkar. Back in 1989, he was only 16 when Team India came calling. All these years later, Sooryavanshi finds himself in the same boat, with fans can’t wait to see the teenager in India colours. Yet to turn 15, Sooryavanshi, named Player of the Match and the series, could well be on his way to greatness. But perhaps it will be better, too, to let him be and not bombard the youngster with constant Tendulkar comparisons.

Sooryavanshi was unstoppable for India on the day of the final and capped off the day with the Player of the Match as well as the Player of the Series awards. Sooryavanshi became the youngest centurion at the Under-19 World Cup, smashed the record for the second-fastest 100 (off 55 balls) and for the most sixes (15) in an U19 World Cup inning. Had he stayed a little longer, who knows? Even 250 wasn't safe. He got out after playing just 80 balls, with almost 25 overs left.

Gautam Gambhir 'proud' of the boys

India head coach Gautam Gambhir joined in on the wishes, sharing a sharp and crisp message for the India Colts. “Proud of you boys! The future is bring,” he posted.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aditya Bhattacharya
Aditya Bhattacharya is the Sports Editor at Hindustan Times Digital, with close to 15 years of experience in sports journalism. Over the course of his career, he has worked with leading media organisations including Cricbuzz, The Times of India, Network18 and Zee. Primarily a cricket writer, Aditya has covered several marquee events, including the 2016 ICC World T20, the 2019 ICC World Cup in England and the 2023 World Cup in India. His reporting portfolio also includes international cricket across England, South Africa and New Zealand, along with forays into tennis, including coverage of the Australian Open. He has interviewed several prominent athletes across sports. Aditya began his career with a brief stint at CricketNext before getting his first major break at Cricbuzz, where he was part of the Times Network’s startup venture GoCricket, which later merged with Cricbuzz. After nearly 18 months there, he moved to The Times of India, covering his first World Cup assignment and reporting first-hand on landmark moments such as Virat Kohli’s iconic innings against Australia in Mohali. During his three-year tenure, he played a key role in both reporting and desk operations and was recognised as TOI Employee of the Quarter in 2016. He later joined Zee, where he covered the 2019 World Cup across five venues in England—an assignment he considers a career highlight. At Hindustan Times, Aditya’s leadership came to the fore as he was promoted to lead the sports team within 18 months. Under his stewardship, the section has delivered extensive coverage of global sporting events, including the IPL, Olympics, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. In 2024, he was named HT DigiStar of the Year. Aditya continues to adapt to the evolving digital publishing landscape, with a sharp focus on search and audience engagement. Outside work, he occasionally plays the guitar and remains an avid gamer.Read More

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