India U-19 win record 9th Asia Cup title with last-ball thriller vs Pakistan
Synopsis
India's U-19 side pulled off a stunning last-ball chase of 338 to beat Pakistan by one wicket in the Asia Cup final at Al Amerat, claiming a record ninth title. Mohit Ulva hit the winning boundary off the final delivery in one of the most dramatic finishes in U-19 Asia Cup history.
Key Takeaways
India U-19 won the Men's U-19 Asia Cup for a record ninth time , defeating Pakistan by one wicket at Al Amerat .
Mohit Ulva struck the winning four off the last ball of the match, chasing down a target of 338 .
Captain Lakshya Raichandani scored an unbeaten 80 , while Aaryavir Sehwag made an aggressive 58 ; the pair added 95 for the first wicket.
Kavya Patel was India's leading bowler with four wickets ; Venkata took three.
Aaryavir Sehwag was named Player of the Tournament after scoring 361 runs in five matches , including one century and three half-centuries.
Head coach Yere Goud credited four to five months of consistent preparation and the squad's composure in pressure situations.
India's Under-19 men's cricket team claimed a record-extending ninth Men's U-19 Asia Cup title on Saturday at Al Amerat, edging arch-rivals Pakistan by one wicket off the final ball in a breathtaking chase of 338. Mohit Ulva struck the winning four off the last delivery to seal one of the most dramatic finishes in the tournament's history.
Coach Goud on months of preparation
India U-19 head coach Yere Goud said the result was the product of four to five months of relentless preparation. 'For four-five months we have been working hard and we had also played earlier against Sri Lanka and Australia, and there too the boys had done very well; we knew before entering this tournament that we would do well, and the boys did very well, whenever a pressure situation arose, they handled their pressure there and gave their performance,' Goud said.
Goud pointed to those earlier bilateral assignments against Sri Lanka and Australia as proof that the squad had the temperament to perform under scrutiny long before the Asia Cup final arrived.
How India pulled off the chase
Chasing 338, India's innings was anchored by captain Lakshya Raichandani, who crafted an unbeaten 80 off 101 balls. Aaryavir Sehwag provided the explosive start with an aggressive 58 off 61 balls, laced with nine fours, as the two put on 95 runs for the first wicket.
India then wobbled, losing wickets in clusters — including Raichandani and Anvay Dravid (run out for 19) in the 37th over. Manal Chauhan provided a vital counter-attacking 47 off 32 balls (three fours and three sixes) and forged a 57-run stand with Ulva to steady the chase. Ulva finished unbeaten on 49, with Venkata not out on 11 at the other end as the pair navigated the final over to complete a famous win.
Pakistan's formidable total and India's bowling
Batting first, Pakistan posted 337/9, powered by Usman Khan's commanding 107 off 111 balls. Abdul Qadir added a blistering 80 off 54 balls, while captain Farhan Yousaf contributed 63. Kavya Patel was India's standout bowler, claiming four wickets, with Venkata picking up three.
Sehwag steals Player of the Tournament
Aaryavir Sehwag was named Player of the Tournament after accumulating 361 runs in five matches, including one century and three half-centuries — a consistent body of work that underlined India's batting depth throughout the competition.
Record extended, legacy secured
India have now won the Men's U-19 Asia Cup a record nine times, extending their own benchmark in the competition. The victory cements this generation's place alongside previous title-winning squads and sets up promising prospects for several of these players at the senior level in the years ahead.
Point of View
And Goud's reference to prior bilateral series against Sri Lanka and Australia suggests the BCCI's U-19 pipeline is functioning with rare continuity. What deserves closer attention is the emergence of Aaryavir Sehwag: 361 runs in five matches at this level is a signal the selectors cannot ignore. The concern, as always with Indian age-group cricket, is whether this cohort will be nurtured carefully into senior structures or lost in the gap between U-19 glory and IPL-era professional demands. Nine titles is a record worth celebrating; converting nine titles into senior Test-ready cricketers is the harder, unfinished task.
NationPress
15 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did India win the U-19 Asia Cup final against Pakistan?
India chased down a target of 338 in the final at Al Amerat, winning by one wicket off the last ball. Mohit Ulva hit the winning four on the final delivery after a partnership with Venkata steadied the chase in the closing overs.
Who is Aaryavir Sehwag and what did he achieve at the U-19 Asia Cup?
Aaryavir Sehwag is an India U-19 opener who was named Player of the Tournament after scoring 361 runs in five matches, including one century and three half-centuries. He scored 58 off 61 balls in the final and provided an aggressive platform alongside captain Lakshya Raichandani.
How many times has India won the Men's U-19 Asia Cup?
India have now won the Men's U-19 Asia Cup a record nine times. The latest title, secured at Al Amerat against Pakistan, extends their own all-time record in the competition.
What did Pakistan score in the U-19 Asia Cup final?
Pakistan posted 337/9 batting first. Usman Khan top-scored with 107 off 111 balls, Abdul Qadir made 80 off 54 balls, and captain Farhan Yousaf added 63.
What did India U-19 head coach Yere Goud say after the win?
Goud credited four to five months of hard work and the squad's ability to handle pressure situations. He also pointed to earlier series against Sri Lanka and Australia as proof of the team's readiness before the Asia Cup began.
