How to stay calm under pressure? Anand Mahindra shares a lesson about composure after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi makes cricket history

Teenage cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has once again grabbed attention after producing a stunning knock for India A in the Tri-Nation Series final against Sri Lanka A. The 15-year-old opener rewrote the record books with the fastest half-century in List A cricket history, an achievement that drew praise from cricket fans, former players and business leaders alike. Among those impressed was Anand Mahindra, who said the youngster's temperament stood out even more than the remarkable numbers he produced on the field.

Sooryavanshi's innings came just days after an on-field confrontation involving the young batter during a previous match. Instead of allowing the incident to affect his game, he responded in the most emphatic way possible, with a fearless display of strokeplay that left the opposition struggling for answers.

Anand Mahindra highlights Vaibhav's mindset

Sharing his thoughts on X, Anand Mahindra said the innings was significant not only because of the record attached to it but also because of the maturity shown by the teenager. Praising Sooryavanshi, he wrote, “Fifty off 11 balls. Incredible. But it isn’t only that statistic which I applaud. Because after the earlier match’s on-field confrontation, he could have carried that baggage into this game."


"Instead, he carried his bat & let it do the talking. Talent is a gift. But Temperament is a choice. It’s the temperament that will make him a star,” he added.

Mahindra's post quickly gained traction online, with many users agreeing that Sooryavanshi's response to adversity reflected a level of composure rarely seen in players of his age.

Fastest fifty in List A cricket history

The youngster delivered his historic innings during the Tri-Nation Series final at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. After Sri Lanka A won the toss and opted to bowl, Sooryavanshi walked out to open the innings alongside Priyansh Arya and immediately signalled his intent.

He raced to a half-century in just 11 balls, breaking the world record for the fastest fifty in List A cricket. The previous record belonged to Sri Lanka's Kaushalya Weeraratne, who had reached the milestone in 12 deliveries during a domestic match in the 2005-06 season.

The knock also set a new Indian record. Until now, the fastest List A fifty by an Indian had been the 15-ball half-century scored by Sarfaraz Khan for Mumbai against Punjab in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

The 15-year-old showcased a full range of strokes during the innings. While he struck powerfully down the ground, he was equally effective through the cover region, clearing the boundary even against deliveries pitched on a good length.

Falls short of a century but leaves a lasting impact

After reaching his record-breaking half-century, Sooryavanshi continued to attack and looked set for a maiden List A hundred. However, his innings ended on 94 from just 29 deliveries when he was caught at mid-off off the bowling of Arachchige.

His knock included 10 fours and eight sixes, while only three of his runs came through singles. Although he narrowly missed out on a century, the innings had already become one of the most memorable displays of power hitting seen in List A cricket.

The innings was especially significant because it came after a relatively quiet run with the bat for India A in the tournament.