WINDHOEK: Sri Lanka’s Viran Chamuditha delivered a record-shattering performance on Saturday, scripting history in the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026 during his side’s opening fixture against Japan at the Namibia Cricket Ground.
The left-hander produced a monumental innings of 192 from 143 deliveries, the highest individual score ever recorded in the tournament’s history.
His knock, studded with 26 boundaries and a six, saw him surpass the previous record of fellow Sri Lankan Hasith Boyagoda, who had scored 191 against Kenya in the 2018 edition.
Highest individual scores in U19 World Cup
| Player | Team | Score | Balls Faced | Opponent | Date |
| Viran Chamuditha | Sri Lanka | 192 | 143 | Japan | 17 Jan 2026 |
| Hasitha Boyagoda | Sri Lanka | 191 | 152 | Kenya | 23 Jan 2018 |
| Jakob Bhula | New Zealand | 180 | 144 | Kenya | 17 Jan 2018 |
| Donovan Pagon | West Indies | 176 | 129 | Scotland | 21 Jan 2002 |
| Dan Lawrence | England | 174 | 150 | Fiji | 27 Jan 2016 |
Chamuditha’s innings laid the foundation for a commanding Sri Lankan total and only came to an end when he was dismissed by Timothy Moore, by which time the damage had already been done.
The record-breaking display was complemented by another landmark achievement, as Chamuditha and opening partner Dimantha Mahavitana stitched together a colossal 328-run stand.
The partnership is now the highest for any wicket in the history of the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup.
Highest partnerships in U19 World Cup
| Partners | Team | Runs | Opposition | Date |
| Dimantha Mahavithana & Viran Chamuditha | Sri Lanka | 328 | Japan | 17 Jan 2026 |
| Dan Lawrence & Jack Burnham | England | 303 | Fiji | 27 Jan 2016 |
| Brad Wilson & BJ Watling | New Zealand | 273 | Scotland | 19 Feb 2004 |
| Jason Sangha & Nathan McSweeney | Australia | 250 | PNG | 19 Jan 2018 |
| Rachin Ravindra & Jakob Bhula | New Zealand | 245 | Kenya | 17 Jan 2018 |
Powered by the mammoth opening stand, Sri Lanka posted an imposing target of 388 runs for Japan in their first outing of the 2026 tournament, underlining their intent early in the competition.
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