Truck driver's son smashes 52-ball 103 batting at No 9 for India U19 in England

His innings helped team defeat Young Lions XI by a mammoth 231 runs

Last updated: June 26, 2025 | 05:00

Jai Rai, Assistant Editor

2 MIN READ

Truck driver's son smashes 52-ball 103 batting at No 9 for India U19 in England

Dubai: The India Under-19 team touring England had a few star names, including IPL stars Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre, but it was a truck driver's son who hogged the limelight during the opening match against England's Young Lions XI in Loughborough.

Eighteen-year-old Harvansh Pangalia scored an impressive 103 off just 52 balls, which included eight boundaries and nine sixes, as India posted a massive 442 for nine in 50 overs.

Rahul Kumar (73), Kanishk Chouhan (79), and RS Ambrish (72) were the other contributors.

The total was too much for the hosts to chase, as they were bowled out for only 211 in 41.1 overs, with opener and captain Will Bennison impressing with 103.

Also Read: Cricket: How Sanju Samson helped Vaibhav Suravanshi score his maiden IPL century

Early life

Harvansh is a wicketkeeper-batter from Gandhidham, a small town in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.

During his young days, he watched both his father Damandeep and uncle Kunwarajeet Singh play cricket, which attracted him to the sport.

In 2012, Harvansh was enrolled in an academy when the Saurashtra Cricket Association opened one in the town.

However, Damandeep decided to move to Canada in 2017 to join his elder brother and sister. Harvansh refused to move and wanted to pursue cricket in India.

Also Read: Vaibhav Suryavanshi picked in Indian team for England tour

So, Damandeep shifted to Brampton while Harvansh stayed back with his mother in Gandhidham, with a promise that a decision could be made if he didn't get selected for the Under-19 team.

His hard work and passion paid off when Harvansh was selected for the team last month.

After Harvansh was selected for India's Under-19 squad last month, his father said that when he woke up, he had received hundreds of congratulatory text messages on his son's selection.

"After driving a truck for 15-16 hours, you can't wake up that easily from a mobile's vibration," he told the Times of India. "There are so many congratulatory messages. It feels good. It brings back so many memories of when Harvansh said 'no' to me about moving to Canada. He was rigid and he's living his dream. He always wanted to pursue his dream of playing for India," Damandeep added.

At the other end of the country, the Indian senior team led by Shubman Gill suffered a five-wicket defeat against England in the first Test of the five-match series.

Jai RaiAssistant Editor

Jai is a seasoned journalist with more than two decades of experience across India and the UAE, specialising in sports reporting. Throughout his distinguished career, he has had the privilege of covering some of the biggest names and events in sports, including cricket, tennis, Formula 1 and golf. A former first-division cricket league captain himself, he brings not only a deep understanding of the game but also a cricketer's discipline to his work. His unique blend of athletic insight and journalistic expertise gives him a wide-ranging perspective that enriches his storytelling, making his coverage both detailed and engaging. Driven by an unrelenting passion for sports, he continues to craft compelling narratives that resonate with readers. As the day winds down for most, he begins his work, ensuring that the most captivating stories make it to the print edition in time for readers to receive them bright and early the next morning.