Yuvraj Samra’s Historic Century Lights Up T20 World Cup 2026: Canada’s young opener Yuvraj Samra delivered a sensational performance with the bat, scoring a brilliant 110 off 65 balls against New Zealand in Match 31 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
In a must-win group match, the 19-year-old played one of the finest innings in Canada’s cricket history, helping his team post a strong 173/4 in 20 overs after winning the toss and choosing to bat.
His innings included 11 fours and 6 sixes at a strike rate of 169.23, and it came under pressure against a full-member side, making the achievement even more special.
Match Summary: CAN vs NZ (Group D)
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| Canada | 173/4 (20 overs) |
| Top Scorer | Yuvraj Samra – 110 (65) |
| Other Contributions | Dilpreet Bajwa – 36 (39) |
| Best NZ Bowlers | Jacob Duffy 1/25, Matt Henry 1/28 |
Canada got off to a strong start with a 116-run opening partnership between Samra and captain Dilpreet Bajwa, which laid the foundation for a competitive total.
Despite losing a few quick wickets at the end, Canada added 50 runs in the last five overs to push the score near 175.
Records Created by Yuvraj Samra
Samra’s knock was not just a big innings — it was a record-breaking performance.
Major Records:
- 110 vs New Zealand – second-highest individual T20I score for Canada
- Century in 58 balls
- Youngest player to score a T20 World Cup century
(Age: 19 years 141 days) - First-ever century by an Associate Nation batter in a Men’s T20 World Cup
- Highest partnership for Canada vs a full-member team in T20 WCs (116 runs)
Youngest Centurions in T20 World Cup
| Player | Age | Match |
|---|---|---|
| Yuvraj Samra (Canada) | 19y 141d | vs NZ, 2026 |
| Ahmed Shehzad (Pakistan) | 22y 127d | vs BAN, 2014 |
| Suresh Raina (India) | 23y 156d | vs SA, 2010 |
This innings has quickly become one of the standout moments of the tournament.
Born on September 29, 2006, Yuvraj Samra is a left-handed opening batter who has been one of Canada’s most promising young players.
Samra’s T20I Career (Before This Match)
| Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 459 | 32.78 | 159.37 | 3 |
His aggressive style and ability to dominate quality bowling were clearly visible in this innings, where he attacked both pace and spin confidently.
In the ongoing World Cup before this match, Samra had scores of 5 vs UAE and 12 vs South Africa, but this century showed his big-match temperament.
How the Innings Unfolded
- Reached 50 in 36 balls
- Accelerated after the powerplay
- Hit multiple sixes against Cole McConchie and Kyle Jamieson
- Completed his century in 58 balls
- Received a standing ovation after being dismissed in the 20th over
His partnership with Bajwa ensured Canada stayed ahead of the game despite New Zealand’s experienced bowling attack.
This was Canada’s second-highest total in T20 World Cup history and showed that Associate teams are closing the gap with top nations.
Read more: Suryakumar Yadav T20I Captaincy Record
Even though Canada needed a big performance to stay alive in the tournament, Samra’s innings has become a landmark moment for Canadian cricket and a strong signal for the future.
At just 19 years old, Yuvraj Samra has already created history — and if he continues this form, he could soon become one of the most exciting young batters in international cricket.
On a big stage and under pressure, Yuvraj Samra delivered a knock that will be remembered for years. Records, milestones, and fearless batting — the young Canadian has announced his arrival to the world in style.
