Chennai witnessed cricketing magic on February 17 as Yuvraj Samra, Canada’s 19-year-old batting whiz, unleashed a record-shattering 110-run blitz against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2026. In match 31, the debutant rewrote records by becoming the youngest to notch both a fifty and a century in the tournament’s history.
With poise that belied his age, Samra faced 65 balls, hammering 11 boundaries and 6 massive sixes. His partnerships were the backbone of Canada’s 173/4: a solid 116 with Dilpreet Bajwa and a brisk 22 with Navneet Dhaliwal.
New Zealand stumbled early at 30/2 but recovered spectacularly. Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips’ 146-run stand off 72 balls sealed a comfortable win in 15.1 overs. Yet, the defeat couldn’t dim Samra’s glory.
The emotional batter opened up post-match: ‘From the day Canada qualified, this moment consumed me. Dreaming of a century on this stage every night, making it real as the tournament’s youngest player is a dream come true.’
Named after his father’s hero, Yuvraj Singh, Samra holds the Indian star as his idol. ‘This innings feels amazing. Emotions are overwhelming. I’ve watched Yuvraj paaji since I was a kid. Dedicating this to my dad back home,’ he said, eyes misty.
This landmark ton, the first by any associate nation batter in T20 World Cups, underscores cricket’s global evolution. Samra’s emergence promises excitement as Canada battles on, with fans worldwide buzzing about the prodigy named after a legend.