Chennai, February 17 – At just 19, Yuvraj Samra made a stunning debut on the biggest stage, scoring 110 to help Canada reach 173/4 against New Zealand at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium on Monday.
Making his very first appearance in the T20 World Cup, the teenager played with maturity beyond his years, combining elegance with authority in a 58-ball century that broke records. At 19 years and 141 days, he became the youngest player to score a fifty in T20 World Cup history, and went on to register the first hundred by a player from an Associate nation in the tournament. Furthermore, his 110-run innings was the highest individual score for Associate teams in T20 World Cups.
Reflecting on the milestone innings, Samra, speaking to the broadcasters after the first innings, said, “Honestly, I’ve been visualizing this moment ever since we qualified for the World Cup. Every day, I dreamed of scoring a hundred on this stage. To achieve it here, in my first appearance, and as the youngest player in this World Cup – it’s truly a dream come true.”
Canada’s innings began cautiously against the new-ball pair of Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy, but Samra quickly found his rhythm. He found gaps with precision and launched an 87-meter six to signal his intent, while captain Dilpreet Bajwa provided steady support. The duo put together a 116-run opening stand, the highest by an Associate team against a Full Member in T20 World Cup history, setting the stage for a formidable total.
Samra’s hundred, studded with 11 fours and six sixes, also carried emotional weight. Named after the Indian great Yuvraj Singh, he surpassed his idol’s highest T20 World Cup score in the process.
“It feels incredible. There are so many emotions right now, I can’t really put them into words. Yuvraj Singh is someone I’ve looked up to since I was a kid, so to even be mentioned in the same breath is special. I just wish my dad was here today watching me from back home - this one’s for him,” he noted.
Samra was also measured in his assessment of the surface in Chennai. “The wicket was a bit slow, and the ball was sticking slightly. I felt it was important to pick the right deliveries to attack and not force shots. Once I got set, I focused on timing rather than power. I think bowling into the pitch and mixing the pace will be key on this surface – it’s not the easiest track for free-flowing strokeplay, so you’ve got to adapt,” he said.
Despite late strikes from Jacob Duffy and Kyle Jamieson, quick contributions from Harsh Thaker and Dilon Heyliger ensured Canada finished strongly, setting up a compelling contest under the Chennai lights.
