India reach U19 Asia Cup final with eight-wicket win over Afghanistan
India U19 (230/2 in 36.5 overs) beat Afghanistan U19 (227/8 in 50 overs) by eight wickets in Al Amerat on Thursday to reach the Under-19 Asia Cup final, with captain Lakshya Raichandani scoring 93 off 90 as India chased the 228-run target in 36.5 overs.
Pakistan had earlier secured the other final spot by beating Bangladesh; Bangladesh were bowled out for 138 in 31.4 overs and Pakistan completed the chase in 21.5 overs, finishing on 141 for one. Hayam Khan top-scored with 69, Usman Khan remained unbeaten on 64, and Rizwanullah took five wickets for 30. The final will be the second meeting between India and Pakistan in this tournament after a group-stage encounter that India lost when Hamza Zahoor hit an unbeaten century, and it follows Pakistan’s title-winning campaign last year in which Sameer Minhas scored 171; India have lost the 2024 final to Bangladesh and the 2025 final to Pakistan.
Afghanistan, having elected to bat, finished on 227 for eight from their 50 overs as India’s bowling unit maintained control through the innings. Ishan Sood was the leading Indian bowler with three wickets for 43 runs in nine overs, while the spinners helped restrict the scoring: Yashbardhan Chauhan returned one for 26 in seven overs and Manal Chauhan conceded 31 in eight overs.
Afghanistan’s innings was steadied by three contributions of note: Noman Salarzai made 51 off 78 balls with two fours and two sixes, Subhan Zakhail scored 31 off 44 including four fours and a six, and Shah Faisal Rahimi finished with 51 off 72. Zakhail was bowled by Yashbardhan in the 20th over, Salarzai was caught at long-on off Arjun Rajput, and Rahimi was dismissed by Ishan Sood’s yorker in the 49th over.
Arjun Rajput finished with figures of one for 20 in four overs, Aryan Savsani claimed two for 29 including the wickets of Amir Hamza and Tahir Sarwary, and Kavya Patel picked up one for 38. Those regular strikes in the middle overs prevented Afghanistan from posting a higher total.
India’s chase was built on a 117-run opening stand between Lakshya Raichandani and Aaryavir Sehwag, with Sehwag reaching his half-century off 57 balls via four fours and four sixes. Sehwag was dismissed for 51 off 57 when Noor Ali Niazi surprised him with a short delivery that produced a thick top edge and a catch by Faridullah Ihsas at backward point.
Lakshya pushed on after the powerplay, brought up a fifty and went on to make 93 off 90 balls with 13 fours and a six before Sohail Khan caught Mohammad Ali at mid-off in the 32nd over. VK Vineeth ensured there were no further hiccups, finishing unbeaten on 57 off 62 and sealing the win with a six off Noor Ali Niazi; Yashbardhan added 16 not out off 14. Noor Ali Niazi and Sohail Khan picked up one wicket each for Afghanistan, the rest of the attack remaining wicketless as India reached the target with 79 balls to spare.
India will meet Pakistan in the final on Saturday, giving India a chance to avenge their group-stage defeat and to attempt to reclaim the title while Pakistan seek to repeat last year’s success.
