Hyderabad: Canada’s rising batting star Yuvraj Samra etched his name into cricket history with a stunning 58-ball century against New Zealand during a ICC Men’s T20 World Cup group-stage match on Monday.
The match, played at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, saw Canada post a competitive total of 173 for 4 after being sent in to bat. Samra was the standout performer, anchoring the innings with a composed yet aggressive hundred that put the New Zealand bowling attack under sustained pressure.
At just 19 years and 141 days, Samra became the youngest player ever to score a century in T20 World Cup history, breaking a 12-year-old record previously held by Pakistan’s Ahmed Shehzad.
Youngest T20 World Cup Centurions
- 19y 141d – Yuvraj Samra (Canada) vs New Zealand, Chennai, 2026
- 22y 127d – Ahmed Shehzad (Pakistan) vs Bangladesh, 2014
- 23y 156d – Suresh Raina (India) vs South Africa, 2010
- 25y 83d – Alex Hales (England) vs Sri Lanka, 2014
- 25y 327d – Glenn Phillips (New Zealand) vs Sri Lanka, 2022
Samra’s century proved crucial in helping Canada post a defendable total and remain competitive in a tough group. The young batter now has 459 runs from 18 T20 Internationals, averaging 32.78 with a strike rate of 159.37, underlining his growing stature in international cricket.
Canada also impressed early with the ball, reducing New Zealand to 30 for 2 within the first four overs. However, a steady recovery led by Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra kept the Black Caps in contention.
New Zealand entered the match needing a win to protect their chances of advancing to the Super 8 stage, making the contest crucial for both sides.
Canada’s T20 World Cup Journey
This is Canada’s second appearance at a T20 World Cup. The team exited in the group stage during the 2024 edition, managing just one win. Led by captain Saad Bin Zafar, Canada qualified for the 2026 tournament after a strong showing in the qualification rounds.
Regardless of the final outcome, Samra’s record-breaking performance stands as a landmark moment for Canadian cricket on the global stage.