India's U19 Team Achieves Record Chase in World Cup Semifinal

In a thrilling semifinal of the ICC Men's U19 World Cup, India chased down a record target of 311 runs against Afghanistan, led by Aaron George's impressive century. This victory not only secured their place in the final but also marked the highest successful run chase in U19 ODIs. With a strong performance from the entire team, India aims for their 10th title in the upcoming final. Read on to discover the highlights of this historic match.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 4, 2026, 23:56 IST

India's Remarkable Victory Over Afghanistan

In a thrilling ICC Men's U19 World Cup semifinal held on Wednesday, India successfully chased down a formidable target of 311 runs against Afghanistan, securing a seven-wicket victory. Aaron George, who played a pivotal role by scoring a century, expressed his joy after being named Player of the Match. He emphasized his gratitude for the chance to contribute in such a crucial match, stating that trusting his skills was key to his performance.

'I Trusted My Skills': Aaron George Reflects

During the post-match presentation, George shared, "I feel very thankful for the opportunity to perform in this important game. I have been batting well, and it was crucial to convert that into runs. I’m pleased to see our top order performing at their best, and I’m excited for the upcoming final."

Afghanistan's Strong Performance

Earlier in the match, Afghanistan set a challenging score of 310/4 in their 50 overs, thanks to impressive centuries from Faisal Shinozada and Uzairullah Niazai.

Shinozada and Niazai's Partnership

The Afghan pair formed a significant partnership, accumulating 148 runs off 130 balls. Shinozada scored 110 runs from 93 balls, hitting 15 boundaries, while Niazai remained not out at 101 runs from 86 balls, including 12 fours and two sixes. For India, bowlers Deepesh Devendran and Kanishk Chouhan each took two wickets.

India's Record-Breaking Chase

In response to the 311-run target, opener Aaron George led the charge with a remarkable 115 runs off 104 balls, featuring 15 fours and two sixes. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi supported him well, scoring 68 runs off just 33 balls, forming a solid opening partnership of 90 runs. Vedant Trivedi and Vihaan Malhotra remained not out, helping India secure a comfortable win.

A Historic Achievement

This victory marks India's highest successful run chase in U19 ODIs, surpassing the previous record of 304 runs against England in 2002. Additionally, India has now reached the U19 World Cup final for the tenth time, the most by any team, with Australia following at six finals in the tournament's 16 editions.