India Enter U-19 World Cup Final After Record Chase

• By Thetripurapost Desk, Harare
• Feb 04, 2026
• 635

India reached the final of the ICC Under-19 World Cup for a record 10th time after defeating Afghanistan by 7 wickets in the second semi-final at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday. India will face England in the final on February 6.
Batting first after winning the toss, Afghanistan posted a formidable 310 for 4 in 50 overs. Faisal Shinozada starred with a brilliant 110, while Uzairullah Niazai remained unbeaten on 101. For India, Deepesh Devendran and Kanishk Chauhan claimed two wickets each.
Chasing a challenging target of 311, India scripted history with the highest successful run chase of the tournament, winning the match in just 41.1 overs. Opener Aaron George led the charge with a commanding 115, well supported by Vaibhav Suryavanshi (68) and captain Ayush Mhatre (62).
India’s chase also became the highest target ever successfully chased in Youth ODI history. The match saw a combined total of 620 runs, the highest aggregate in a Youth ODI between India and Afghanistan. The previous record was 521 runs, set on December 27, 2021, during the ICC U-19 World Cup in Dubai.
Playing XIs
India: Ayush Mhatre (captain), Aaron George, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Vihaan Malhotra, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), Vedant Trivedi, RS Ambris, Kanishk Chauhan, Khilan Patel, Henil Patel, Deepesh Devendran
Afghanistan: Mehboob Khan (captain), Usman Sadat, Khalid Ahmadzai, Faisal Shinozada, Uzairullah Niazai, Azizullah Miakhil, Khatir Stanikzai, Abdul Aziz, Ruhullah Arab, Nuristani Umarzai, Wahidullah Zadran