The young Indian batting sensation, Yashasvi Jaiswal, recently etched his name in the history books with a brilliant unbeaten 84 off just 51 balls against West Indies in the 4th T20I. With this maiden T20I fifty, the 21-year-old Jaiswal became the fourth youngest Indian batter to score a half-century in the shortest format for the national team.
Earlier in the same series, another young gun, Tilak Varma, also entered this elite list after scoring 51 off 41 balls in only his second T20I match for India. At 20 years and 271 days, Varma became the fifth youngest Indian to reach the landmark.
Let’s take a closer look at the exclusive club of youngest Indian half-centurions in T20Is:
5. Robin Uthappa (21 years, 307 days)
Veteran batsman Robin Uthappa registered his maiden T20I fifty against Pakistan in the 2007 T20 World Cup. With India losing early wickets, Uthappa staged a counterattack. His belligerent 50 off 39 balls helped India post a competitive 141/9. The match ended in a tie after Misbah-ul-Haq was run out of the last ball trying to take a risky second run.
4. Yashasvi Jaiswal (21 years, 227 days)
As mentioned earlier, Yashasvi Jaiswal recently became the third youngest Indian to score a T20I fifty. He smashed an unbeaten 84 to help India chase down 179 against West Indies. Jaiswal displayed incredible composure and maturity during his 51-ball knock, guiding India to a series-clinching win.
3. Rishabh Pant (21 years, 38 days)
The swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant scored his maiden T20I fifty against England in 2018. After failing to deliver in his first six T20I innings, Pant finally came to the party in his 7th match. With India chasing 182, Pant walked in at 45/2 and turned the game on its head. He smashed 58 off 38 balls and stitched a crucial 130-run stand with Shikhar Dhawan to guide India to a 7-wicket win.
2. Tilak Varma (20 years, 271 days)
Batting in only his second T20I against West Indies, Tilak Varma displayed remarkable maturity and composure. With India losing early wickets, Varma stabilized the innings with a cultured 51 off 41 balls. His maiden fifty guided India to a respectable 157/7.
Rohit Sharma (20 years, 143 days)
Rohit Sharma has the distinction of being the youngest Indian to score a T20I fifty. He achieved the feat way back in 2007 during the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa. In only his second T20I match, Rohit walked into bat when India was reeling at 33/3. He staged a brilliant rescue act with an unbeaten 50 off 40 balls, helping India recover to 153. His knock proved to be the difference as India won by 37 runs. Rohit was fittingly awarded the ‘Player of the Match’ for his sublime debut fifty.
List of Youngest Indian Cricketers to Score Half-Century in T20I
| POS | Player | Age | Against | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Rohit Sharma | 20 years 143 days | South Africa | 2007 |
| 2. | Tilak Varma | 20 years 271 days | West Indies | 2023 |
| 3. | Rishabh Pant | 21 years 38 days | West Indies | 2018 |
| 4. | Yashasvi Jaiswal | 21 years 277 days | West Indies | 2023 |
| 5. | Robin Uthappa | 21 years 377 days | Pakistan | 2007 |
It is extremely heartening to see talented young Indian batters like Jaiswal, Varma and Pant announce themselves on the big stage at such a young age. With their fearless and mature batting approach, they have cemented their places in the Indian team. If they continue their upward trajectory, these precocious talents could serve Indian cricket for a long, long time. The future of Indian batting appears to be in safe hands.
