T20 World Cup 2026: Canada's young batter Yuvraj Samra announced his arrival on the big stage with a cracking hundred against New Zealand at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium on Monday. At the age of 19, Samra rewrote history books with his exploits with the bat in his maiden T20 World Cup appearance.
His 58-ball hundred was instrumental in getting Canada to a fighting total of 173 for 4 at the end of 20 overs in front of an accomplished bowling line-up of New Zealand. His 110-run knock was the highest individual score for Associate teams in the T20 World Cup history.
Who is Yuvraj Samra?
Samra was born in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, into a family of Punjabi descent. His father, Baljit Singh, immigrated to Canada from India and introduced him to cricket at a young age. They chose his name in honor of former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, a player he has long admired and followed.
I Manifested It: Samra
Reflecting on the milestone innings, Samra, speaking to the broadcasters after the first innings, said, “Honestly, I manifested this moment ever since we qualified for the World Cup. Every single day, I dreamed about scoring a hundred on this stage. To do it here, in my first appearance, and as the youngest player in this World Cup - it’s truly a dream come true.”
Samra’s hundred, studded with 11 fours and six sixes, also carried emotional weight. Named after Indian great Yuvraj Singh, he surpassed his idol’s highest T20 World Cup score in the process.
“It feels incredible. There are so many emotions right now, I can’t really put them into words. Yuvraj Singh is someone I’ve looked up to since I was a kid, so to even be mentioned in the same breath is special. I just wish my dad was here today watching me from back home - this one’s for him,” he noted.
Samra was equally measured in his assessment of the surface in Chennai. “The wicket was a bit slow and the ball was sticking slightly. I felt it was important to pick the right deliveries to attack and not force shots. Once I got set, I focused on timing rather than power. I think bowling into the pitch and mixing the pace will be key on this surface - it’s not the easiest track for free-flowing strokeplay, so you’ve got to adapt,” he said.
Chasing 174, New Zealand rode on Rachin and Phillips' stand that came off just 73 balls, overhauling the target in 15.1 overs.
Inputs from Agency
