Indian origin Canadian batter Yuvraj Samra scripted history at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 by becoming the youngest player ever to score a century in the tournament.
The 19-year-old smashed a stunning 110 off 65 balls against the New Zealand national cricket team in a Group D clash, achieving the milestone at just 19 years and 141 days.
Samra’s innings, studded with 11 fours and six sixes, powered Canada to a competitive total of 173. In doing so, he not only became the youngest T20 World Cup centurion but also registered the highest individual score by a batter from an Associate nation in the tournament’s history.
Breaking a Long-Standing Record
The previous record for the youngest T20 World Cup century belonged to Ahmed Shehzad, who was 22 years old when he reached the landmark in 2014. Samra’s knock has now rewritten the record books and placed his name among the brightest young stars in global cricket.
Interestingly, Yuvraj was named after the Indian legend Yuvraj Singh by his father, Baljit Samra. Making the moment even more special, this was only his 19th T20 International appearance since his debut in March 2025.
After reaching the milestone, Samra revealed he had long visualised this achievement. He described the century as a dream come true and credited his father for inspiring his cricket journey.
Praise From Opponents
Despite Samra’s brilliance, New Zealand chased down the 174-run target comfortably, finishing at 176 for 2. Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra guided their side to victory and qualification for the Super Eights alongside the South Africa national cricket team.
Phillips later praised the teenager, calling his innings “fabulous” and predicting a long international future for him.
A Rising Star for Canada
Born in Canada to Indian origin parents, Yuvraj Samra is rapidly emerging as one of the most exciting young talents in Associate cricket. His fearless stroke play, clean ball striking, and ability to perform on the biggest stage have already attracted global attention.
At just 19, Samra has delivered one of the most memorable performances of the T20 World Cup 2026. If this century is any indication, Canadian cricket may have found its next global star.
