A new chapter in cricket history was written at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday as Canada’s 19-year-old opener Yuvraj Samra stunned the cricketing world with a breathtaking century against New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Samra hammered 110 runs off just 65 balls, becoming the youngest player ever to score a century in T20 World Cup history. At 19 years and 141 days old, he broke the previous record held by Pakistan’s Ahmed Shehzad, who achieved the feat at 22 years and 127 days. Samra also became the first cricketer from an Associate nation to score a hundred in the tournament.
A Fifty in 36 Balls, Then Total Domination
The left-handed opener set the tone early, racing to his half-century in just 36 balls before accelerating further against a seasoned New Zealand bowling attack. He stitched together a 116-run opening partnership with captain Dilpreet Bajwa (36), laying a solid platform for Canada’s competitive total of 173/4.
Facing the pace of Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, and Jacob Duffy, Samra displayed a perfect blend of composure and aggression. His innings was studded with 11 boundaries and six towering sixes. Though he fell in the final over attempting another big hit, the damage had already been done — and history had been made.
“This Innings Could Change My Life”
After the match, Samra reflected emotionally on his achievement.
“I’ve always dreamed about this moment. Being from Canada, I want to make a living out of this sport. This innings could change my life,” he said.
He also spoke about the challenges of playing cricket in Canada, where the sport is limited to only about three months a year due to harsh winters with temperatures dropping to minus 25–30 degrees Celsius. To improve his game, Samra and his teammates often travel to countries like Sri Lanka for better training conditions.
Also Read: Who will win the T20 WC 2026? Predictions & Expert Analysis
Inspired by Yuvraj Singh
Born on September 29, 2006, Yuvraj Samra is a left-handed batter named after Indian cricket legend Yuvraj Singh. His father, Baljit Samra, was inspired by Yuvraj Singh’s iconic 12-ball fifty in the 2007 T20 World Cup and dreamed that his son would one day emulate such greatness. Samra has met his idol several times but insists he wants to carve out his own identity in world cricket.
Cricket Career
Samra made his international debut for Canada at just 17. He already holds a national record for a 15-ball half-century. So far, he has played 8 ODIs and 19 T20Is, scoring 569 runs in T20 internationals, including three fifties and one century, at a strike rate of over 161.
Making his T20 World Cup debut in the 2026 edition, he has scored 127 runs in three matches at a strike rate of 159.2.
IPL Dream on the Horizon
Balancing studies at home while practicing 500 balls a week, Samra’s journey from backyard cricket to the World Cup stage is nothing short of inspirational. He dreams of one day playing in the Indian Premier League, preferably for the Mumbai Indians.
While Canada may still be fighting for survival in the group stage, Yuvraj Samra’s historic knock has already ensured that the cricketing world is watching — and that this 19-year-old prodigy could soon become a global T20 sensation.
