He is just 21 years of age!
Zimbabwe batter Brian Bennett etched his name in the history books on Tuesday, becoming the youngest cricketer to score an international century across all three formats. Bennett achieved this remarkable feat at just 21 years, 324 days. Given his talent and current form, he could attract interest at the upcoming IPL 2026 auction.
The right-hand batter starred for Zimbabwe in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Final as they hammered Tanzania by 113 runs. Bennett smashed 111 off just 60 deliveries with 15 fours and two sixes. Zimbabwe will next face Kenya in the semi-final and are expected to reach the T20 World Cup. He will get an opportunity to showcase his talent in front of a larger audience.
It is not like Zimbabwe haven’t had international stars before. They have had the likes of Andy Flower, Dave Houghton, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams, and Sikandar Raza. In the era of T20 cricket, Raza has transformed into a global superstar. But he is known for his all-round ability, while Brian Bennett could become the first batting superstar.
Bennett has had a rapid rise in world cricket. He first broke onto the scene in the Under-19 World Cup 2022, where he was the leading run-getter for Zimbabwe with 273 runs at an average of 45.50, including three fifties.
By the end of 2023, he made his international debut and smashed 70 off 49 against Bangladesh in only his fifth T20I. In February 2024, he scored an incredible 264 off 259 balls in a First-Class match against the Eagles. Unsurprisingly, he earned a national call-up to the Test side for a one-off Test against Ireland in July last year. He has since been a regular feature in the team.
The youngster has two centuries in his 10-Test career, including a stunning 139 off 143 against England in Nottingham earlier this year. Bennett has all the skill set to be a proper all-format batting superstar for Zimbabwe for years to come.
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Brian Bennett has been rated highly in the cricketing world, with many advocating for him to be in the top franchise leagues, including the Indian Premier League (IPL). So far, he has not featured in any overseas league, but an IPL 2026 auction bid might not be far-fetched.
The opening batter has an outstanding record in the shorter format. He has amassed 1,793 runs from 58 T20 matches at an average of 32.60 and a strike rate of 142.43. His scoring rate in international T20s goes up to 146. In his last three T20Is, he has hammered 72 off 44, 65 off 33, and a century.
Looking at his game, Brian Bennett seems to have a good range of shots against both pace and spin. His solid technique and FC exploits suggest he is not a one-trick pony. He has the potential to eventually get a contract with an IPL franchise and go on to light up world cricket.
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