Aaryavir Sehwag echoes Kohli with injured half-century in U19 Asia Cup final

Aaryavir Sehwag, the 15-year-old India opener, scored a fighting half-century and celebrated with a Virat Kohli-style gesture during the Under-19 Asia Cup final between India and Pakistan on November 14, 2026. The celebration followed an innings in which he battled an injury scare to help set a platform in a chase of 338.

India were chasing a daunting 338 when Sehwag faced a testing start against Pakistan’s pace attack before the injury interruption. The 15-year-old recreated Kohli’s familiar “let my bat do the talking” gesture; Kohli had first used that celebration after reaching his 25th Test century against Australia in Perth on December 16, 2018. Sehwag’s fifty was one element of a consistent tournament showing from the opener.

Sehwag’s resolve was examined when an inswinging delivery from Ali Raza struck his forearm, forcing the physio onto the field and a bandage to be applied to his hand. He resumed batting immediately and hit the very next ball he faced for a boundary, cutting it behind the bat, and at times played with his bottom hand removed from the handle to manage the discomfort.

The opener and captain Lakshya Raichandani compiled a 97-run opening stand before Sehwag fell. Sehwag reached his fifty off 50 balls, registering his fourth score of 50 or more in the tournament after previous innings of 70 not out, 160 and 51. He finished on 58 off 61 balls, striking nine fours.

Sehwag’s innings ended when he stepped out to attack spinner Niqab Shafiq, mistimed the lofted shot and saw the ball come off the lower part of his bat for Usman Khan to take the catch at long-off. It was a valuable contribution in a steep chase, even if he could not carry India further.

India were 97/1 in 17.4 overs at the time of writing, with Lakshya Raichandani batting on 35 as the team continued the pursuit of 338.