On February 17, 2026, the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai was the venue for a remarkable Cricket match as Canada faced New Zealand during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. In a surprising twist, 19-year-old star Yuvraj Samra showcased his talent by scoring a stunning century, leaving New Zealand struggling and capturing the attention of cricket fans worldwide.
After winning the toss, Canada chose to bat first, and the atmosphere was full of excitement. Samra’s innings was not just a performance but a demonstration of his skill, guiding the match’s flow from the start.
Yuvraj Samra scores an impressive century against New Zealand in T20 World Cup 2026
Samra reached his century in the 17th over against the towering Kyle Jamieson. A deft touch on a delivery outside off-stump sent the ball to the boundary, bringing him to 100 runs off just 58 balls. His celebration was memorable as he took off his helmet, revealing his youthful face, and raised his bat to acknowledge the cheering crowd in Chennai.
Samra finished his innings with an outstanding 110 runs off 65 balls, hitting 9 fours and 2 sixes, and maintained a strike rate of 169.23. He played a crucial role in the Canadian innings, forming a strong 116-run opening partnership with captain Dilpreet Bajwa, who scored a steady 36 runs. Samra quickly pushed Canada to 50 runs within the first six overs.
The New Zealand bowlers, including experienced players like Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy, struggled to counter Samra’s exceptional shot selection. Jamieson’s bounce was ineffective against him. Samra reached his half-century in just 36 balls and then ramped up the scoring pace to achieve his first World Cup century. He was ultimately caught by Glenn Phillips off Duffy in the last over, solidifying Canada’s strong position.
Here’s how fans reacted:
