India U19 comfortably beat Afghanistan U19 to qualify for U19 Cricket World Cup 2026 Final

Record-holder five-time champions India U19 set a new record in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup history after comfortably beating Afghanistan U19 in the Semi-final of the 2026 event, as they have qualified for the Final of the tournament to face one-time champions England U19 on Friday (February 6). 

India U19 will play their sixth consecutive U19 Cricket World Cup Final

After Afghanistan U19 chose to bat first in the second Semi-final at Harare, they scored 310/4 in 50 overs. In reply, India U19 chased down the target in 41.1 overs after losing three wickets, as India U19 recorded the highest successful chase in the tournament history. Meanwhile, it was the joint second highest successful chase in the Youth ODI history. The five-time champions India U19 will now play the sixth consecutive ICC U19 CWC Final and 10th overall U19 CWC Final. 

Afghanistan U19 had two centuries

Afghanistan openers Osman Sadat and Khalid Ahmadzai provided a good start with a 53-run partnership for the first wicket. While both the openers were dismissed in their 30s, the next two batters, Faisal Shinozada and Uzairullah Niazai had a powerful 148-run partnership for the third wicket, as both slammed centuries. While Faisal scored 110 off 93 balls with 15 fours, Uzairullah slammed 101 not out off 86 balls with 12 fours and two sixes. 

Among the Indian bowlers, Kanishk Chouhan (2/55) and Deepesh Devendran (2/64) got two wickets each. 

All top three Indian batters dominated with Aaron George century

In reply, all the top Indian batters performed strongly, as they comfortably chased down the target before the completion of the 42nd over. Openers Aaron George and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had a brilliant 90-run opening partnership in just 9.3 overs. Vaibhav slammed 68 off just 33 balls with nine fours and four sixes, as his batting set the tone for the Indian colts.

Aaron George then had a 114-run partnership with captain Ayush Mhatre for the second wicket. Skipper Ayush scored 62 off 59 balls with five fours and four sixes. Meanwhil, Aaron scored 115 off 104 balls with 15 fours and two sixes, while the opener had another 96-run partnership with Vihaan Malhotra, who remained not out for 38 off 47 balls with three sixes.