India Secures U19 Asia Cup Championship with Nail-Biting Win Against Pakistan
India's U19 Team Triumphs in Asia Cup Final
New Delhi, November 14: The head coach of the Indian men's senior cricket team, Gautam Gambhir, extended his congratulations to the India Under-19 cricket squad following their exhilarating one-wicket victory over Pakistan in the final of the 2026 Men's U19 Asia Cup held on Saturday. Gambhir took to social media to commend the young players for their fearless attitude and resilience during the intense match, stating, "Fearless cricket. Unshakable belief. Grit has no batting order!! Champions of Asia! Well done, boys!"
Shyam Sunder Sharma, director of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), also praised the team's performance and expressed confidence in young batter Aaryavir Sehwag, the son of former Indian opener Virender Sehwag. In an interview after India's victory, Sharma highlighted Aaryavir's significant potential and maturity, hoping that these young talents would soon represent the senior national team.
"It’s fantastic to witness the hard work the boys put in; they achieved victory in a challenging match. Aaryavir has immense potential—similar to Virender Sehwag. He is a sensible and mature young man. We, along with all the parents, hope that our boys will soon win the upcoming Under-19 World Cup and eventually play for the senior Indian team. Aaryavir has great potential; he will go far. They do not rely on influence to get into the team; they depend solely on their performance. I genuinely hope these boys represent India soon," Sharma remarked.
India showcased an impressive comeback in the final at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman, successfully chasing down Pakistan's formidable target of 338 runs, finishing at 339/9 in the last over for a thrilling one-wicket win. Pakistan had set a target of 337/9 in their allotted 50 overs, with Usman Khan leading the scoring with 107 runs off 111 balls. Abdul Qadir contributed 80 runs off 54 balls, while captain Farhan Yousaf added 63 runs off 60 deliveries. For India, Kavya Patel took four wickets for 68 runs, and Chigurupati Venkata secured three wickets.
In the run chase, captain Lakshya Rajesh Raichandani was the top scorer with 80 runs off 101 balls, while Aaryavir Sehwag added 58 runs off 61 balls. Manal Chauhan played a crucial role with a quick 47 runs off 32 balls, and Mohit Ulva's unbeaten 49 runs off just 26 balls, including five fours and three sixes, propelled the team to victory. Chigurupati Venkata remained not out with 11 runs off eight balls, helping India cross the finish line. This victory marks India's ninth U19 Asia Cup title, solidifying their status as the most successful team in the tournament's history. Their last title was in 2021 when they defeated Sri Lanka in the UAE.