Yashbardhan Chauhan's all-round show powers India U-19 past Australia U-19 by 7 runs
Synopsis
Sons of Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag shared the stage with all-rounder Yashbardhan Chauhan in a tense 7-run Youth ODI win for India U-19 over Australia U-19 in Rajkot. Chauhan's 54 with the bat and 2/28 with the ball — plus a last-over nerves-of-steel performance from pacer Mohit Ulva — decided a match that could have gone either way until the final delivery.
Key Takeaways
India U-19 beat Australia U-19 by seven runs in the rain-curtailed first Youth ODI at Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot on 18 September 2026 .
Yashbardhan Chauhan scored 54 off 34 balls and took 2/28 , earning him match-winner honours.
Anvay Dravid smashed 38 off 18 balls (SR 211.11); Aaryavir Sehwag contributed 28 off 26 balls at the top.
Australia captain Jack Czosnek hit 55 off 27 balls but was dismissed when 24 runs were needed off 11 balls .
Pacer Mohit Ulva conceded just 3 runs in the final over to seal a tense Indian victory.
India U-19 posted 182/6 ; Australia U-19 finished on 175/7 in the 20-over contest.
Yashbardhan Chauhan delivered a commanding all-round performance as India Under-19 edged out Australia Under-19 by seven runs in a rain-curtailed first Youth ODI at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on 18 September 2026. The match was reduced to 20 overs a side, but India's clinical display — with bat and ball — proved just enough to secure a tense opening win in the series.
India's Batting: Chauhan Sets the Tone
Sent in to bat, India U-19 posted 182/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Chauhan top-scored with a brisk 54 off 34 balls, striking five boundaries and two sixes. The innings featured a pivotal 69-run fifth-wicket partnership between Chauhan and Anvay Dravid, son of legendary India captain Rahul Dravid, which steadied the side after a wobble at 88/4 in the 12th over.
Anvay played the finisher's role to perfection, smashing 38 off just 18 balls at a stunning strike rate of 211.11, with two fours and three sixes. The other notable contribution came from Aaryavir Sehwag, son of swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag, who set the early tempo with 28 off 26 balls, including five fours — echoing his father's instinctively aggressive style, and doing so in front of him in the stands. For Australia, off-spinner Eli Brain was the standout bowler with figures of 2/29 in four overs.
Australia's Spirited Chase Falls Short
Chasing 183, Australia U-19 were far from outclassed. Captain Jack Czosnek produced a blistering 55 off 27 balls — reaching his half-century off just 25 deliveries — with six fours and three sixes, keeping the tourists firmly in the contest. Neel Patel contributed a rapid 45 off 21 balls and Hayden Barbulovic chipped in with 40 off 24 deliveries, making this a genuine run-chase rather than a comfortable defence.
With Australia needing 24 runs off 11 deliveries, Czosnek smashed three consecutive boundaries before being dismissed on the very next ball — a dramatic turning point. When 11 runs were required off the final over, right-arm pacer Mohit Ulva held his nerve, conceding just three runs to seal a victory that was far closer than the margin suggests. Australia finished on 175/7.
Chauhan's Bowling Seals the Deal
Yashbardhan Chauhan backed up his half-century with the ball, returning figures of 2/28 with his off-spin. He dismissed both Neel Patel and Hayden Barbulovic — the two key Australian run-scorers outside of Czosnek — to arrest Australia's acceleration at crucial moments. Chauhan's twin contributions made him the clear match-winner on a day defined by narrow margins.
A Glimpse of Cricket's Next Generation
The match was notable not just for the result but for the generational symbolism it carried. Aaryavir Sehwag and Anvay Dravid — sons of two of India's most celebrated cricketers — played tangible roles in a competitive international contest, signalling that the next wave of Indian cricket talent carries weight beyond just surnames. The Youth ODI series continues at the same venue, with both teams likely to regroup quickly for the second match.
Point of View
Not just a flat-track accumulator. The presence of Anvay Dravid and Aaryavir Sehwag will dominate the narrative, as it inevitably must, but their performances were substantive enough to stand on their own. The real headline may be Mohit Ulva's final over — the ability to defend 11 under pressure at that age is exactly the temperament India's fast-bowling pipeline has historically struggled to find.
NationPress
18 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the first India U-19 vs Australia U-19 Youth ODI in Rajkot?
India Under-19 won the first Youth ODI against Australia Under-19 by seven runs at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on 18 September 2026. The match was reduced to 20 overs a side due to rain.
What did Yashbardhan Chauhan do in the match?
Yashbardhan Chauhan scored 54 off 34 balls and took 2/28 with his off-spin, making him the decisive all-round performer of the match. He also shared a crucial 69-run fifth-wicket stand with Anvay Dravid.
How did Anvay Dravid and Aaryavir Sehwag perform?
Anvay Dravid, son of Rahul Dravid, scored 38 off 18 balls at a strike rate of 211.11, while Aaryavir Sehwag, son of Virender Sehwag, contributed 28 off 26 balls as an aggressive opener. Both played key roles in India's total of 182/6.
How close was Australia's chase?
Australia came very close, finishing on 175/7 while chasing 183. Captain Jack Czosnek hit 55 off 27 balls and Australia needed 24 off 11 balls before Czosnek's dismissal turned the tide. Pacer Mohit Ulva conceded just 3 runs in the final over to seal India's win.
Where and when is the next Youth ODI between India U-19 and Australia U-19?
The Youth ODI series is scheduled to continue at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, though the exact date of the second match was not confirmed in available reports.
