India Under-19 booked their place in the final of the ACC Men's U19 Asia Cup 2026 with a commanding eight-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the second semi-final at Al Amerat in Oman on Thursday, setting up the final every fan wanted: India against Pakistan on Saturday.
Chasing 228, India reached 230 for 2 in only 36.5 overs, with 79 balls to spare, as captain Lakshya Raichandani led the way with a match-winning 93 off 90 balls, an innings studded with 13 fours and a six. He was named player of the match for the composed knock that never allowed Afghanistan back into the game.
Raichandani received strong support from the top order. Aaryavir Sehwag made 51, and VK Vineeth finished unbeaten on 57, as India's top three batters did almost all of the work in a chase that was, in the end, barely a contest. The victory was sealed in the 37th over, with India's batters having dominated from the start.
Afghanistan had posted 227 for 8 in their 50 overs after being asked to bat, with Noman Salarzai and Shah Faisal Rahimi both making 51. But the total was well below par on a surface that usually rewards bowlers, and Afghanistan's attack — which had bowled out every opponent in the group stage — had no answer to India's batting.
Pacer Ishan Sood led the Indian bowling attack, taking three wickets, with support from Aryan Savsani, who took two, as the bowlers restricted Afghanistan to a below-par total. Once Sood and his colleagues had done their work, a win for India was always a formality.
The victory sets up a high-profile India-Pakistan final on Saturday at the same ground, giving India the chance to avenge their defeat in the previous edition's title clash, where Pakistan emerged champions. Pakistan, the defending champions, are the only unbeaten side in the competition and the only team to have beaten India in this edition — skittling them for 208 on this very ground only four days earlier.
Pakistan reached the final by beating Bangladesh by nine wickets in the first semi-final, played an hour earlier at the adjacent ground, with Rizwanullah taking five wickets for 30 runs. The two semi-final wins, both emphatic, have set up a final between the tournament's two strongest sides.
For India, the final is a chance to end a five-year wait for the crown. They have been the dominant force in age-group cricket for years, but the Asia Cup title has eluded them, and the defeat to Pakistan in the last final still rankles. A win on Saturday would be a statement of intent from a generation of young cricketers.
For Pakistan, the final is a chance to defend their title and to complete an unbeaten tournament. Their bowling attack has been the story of the competition, and the young side will go into Saturday's match knowing they have already beaten India once — and that they did it on the same ground.
The final will be played on Saturday, 14 November, at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman. With the two great rivals of Asian cricket meeting for a title, and with both sides in strong form, it promises to be one of the most watched youth matches of the year.
