Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi added another record to his growing list of achievements after smashing an 18-ball fifty against Zimbabwe in the first T20I in Harare on Thursday. At just 15 years and 118 days, the Indian opener became the youngest player from a Full Member nation to score a maiden international fifty.

The landmark knock saw Vaibhav go past some of cricket's biggest names, including Sachin Tendulkar and Shahid Afridi. Overall, only Nepal's Kushal Malla reached a maiden international fifty at a younger age, achieving the feat at 15 years and 340 days in an ODI against the USA in 2020. But that match did not have a full Member status. Among Full Member nations, however, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi sits at the top of the list.

Youngest cricketers to hit international fifty (Full Member teams)

In just his fourth international match, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi now leads the list of the youngest players from Full Member nations to score their maiden international fifty. 

In the T20I format the benchmark previously belonged to Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who was just shy of 18 when he brought up his maiden T20I fifty against Zimbabwe in a tri-series in Bangladesh back in 2019. When it comes to all formats, he went past Sachin Tendulkar. Here is a look at the five youngest cricketers to achieve the milestone.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (India) – 15 years, 118 days

In just his fourth T20 there was no sign of nerves from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in Harare. The teenager tore into Zimbabwe's bowling attack and raced to an 18-ball fifty in the first T20I, becoming the youngest player from a Full Member nation to score a maiden international half-century. He was dismissed for 50 runs from 19 balls and smashed four sixes and as many fours in his knock. 

Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 16 years, 213 days

Before he went on to become one of cricket's greatest batters, Sachin Tendulkar registered his first international fifty against Pakistan in the Faisalabad Test in 1989. He was only 16 years and 213 days old, a record that remained untouched for more than three decades before it was broken today. 

Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – 16 years, 214 days

Shahid Afridi's maiden international fifty came in an exciting fashion. Facing Sri Lanka in Nairobi in 1996, the Pakistan batter played one of the most explosive knocks of the era, reaching his half-century before converting it into a memorable hundred. He was just 16 years and 214 days when he announced his arrival in style with a blistering knock.

Mushtaq Mohammad (Pakistan) – 17 years, 39 days

Mushtaq Mohammad was just 17 years and 39 days old when he brought up his maiden international fifty against India in the Kolkata Test in 1960. The knock highlighted his immense promise and made him one of the youngest players of his time to reach the milestone.

Mohammad Ashraful (Bangladesh) – 17 years, 63 days

Bangladesh's Mohammad Ashraful announced himself on the international stage with a brilliant century against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2001. During that innings, he completed his maiden international fifty at the age of 17 years and 63 days, joining an exclusive list of teenage achievers.