India’s Under-19 side is through to the final of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2026 after a one-sided eight-wicket win over Afghanistan in the second semi-final on Thursday, November 12. Chasing 228 at Al Amerat in Oman, India got there with 79 balls to spare. They will now face Pakistan in the final on November 14, after Pakistan beat Bangladesh by nine wickets in the other semi-final.
Match summary
- Afghanistan U19: 227/8 in 50 overs
- India U19: 230/2 in 36.5 overs
- Result: India won by 8 wickets
- Player of the Match: Lakshya Raichandani, 93 off 90 balls
Afghanistan grind to 227
Afghanistan batted first and never quite broke free. Two of their batters, Shah Faisal Rahimi and Noman Salarzai, scored half-centuries. Rahimi made 51 off 72 balls and Salarzai also reached 51, taking 78 balls to get his fifty. Their stand kept the innings together in the middle overs, but neither could push on once set.
Lower down, Sohail Khan’s unbeaten 36 off 44 balls helped Afghanistan past 220. Subhan scored 31 off 44. On a surface where 260 might have tested India, 227 always looked a few short.
India’s bowlers deserve credit for keeping the brakes on. Ishan Sood was the pick of the attack with three wickets for 43 runs in nine overs. Aryan Savsani took two wickets in the 37th over, a spell that stopped Afghanistan from building a late surge. Kavya Patel, Yashbardhan Chauhan and Arjun Rajput picked up a wicket each.
Raichandani leads the chase
Captain Lakshya Raichandani set the tone with the bat. He struck 13 fours and a six in his 93 off 90 balls, putting Afghanistan’s bowlers under pressure from the first over. He missed a century by seven runs, but by the time he fell, the result was not in doubt.
Aaryavir Sehwag, son of former India opener Virender Sehwag, added 51 off 57 balls. The opening pair’s start meant India never had to take risks in the chase.
After both openers were out, VK Vineeth and Yashbardhan Chauhan finished the job. Vineeth made an unbeaten 57 off 62 balls and Chauhan was not out on 16 off 14. India crossed the target in the 37th over.
Why this win matters
Semi-finals at youth level can be nervy. Teenagers rarely play knockout games under this kind of attention, and Afghanistan’s U19 teams have upset bigger sides in the past. India’s approach here was calm. The bowlers kept the target manageable and the top order did not give Afghanistan a sniff.
The margin also says something about India’s depth. Five different bowlers took wickets, and four batters made useful scores. That spread of contributions is often what wins tournaments.
India vs Pakistan in the final
The final against Pakistan on Saturday, November 14, sets up the match fans wanted. Pakistan reached the final in style, beating Bangladesh by nine wickets in the first semi-final.
India and Pakistan games at U19 level draw huge interest, partly because many of these players go on to senior cricket. Several current India and Pakistan internationals first made their names in youth Asia Cups and U19 World Cups.
A few things to watch in the final:
- The top order: Raichandani and Sehwag have been India’s engine. A strong start from them will put Pakistan on the back foot.
- The middle overs with the ball: Ishan Sood and Aryan Savsani did the damage against Afghanistan. Pakistan’s batters will need a plan for them.
- Conditions in Oman: Pitches in the region can slow down as the day goes on, so the toss could play a part.
A tournament for the future
The U19 Asia Cup is also a showcase for selectors. Players who perform under pressure here often move into India A squads and the IPL auction conversation. For Raichandani, Sehwag, Vineeth and Sood, one more good day on Saturday could add a title to their growing reputations.
India will start the final as one of the favourites, but India-Pakistan finals rarely follow the script. The match is due on Saturday, November 14.
Reporting based on Prameya News, CricketWinner and the ESPNcricinfo scorecard.
Featured image: Acabashi, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
