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.  

Does India get their next Sanju Samson? The cricket community is in awe after watching a standout batting display by a young Aaron George against a well-controlled Pakistan bowling attack on Sunday in the Asia Cup U-19 match in Dubai.

Unlike a flat Dubai surface, the Pakistan pace bowlers were getting ample amounts of assistance from the pitch. With extra bounce and pace, Pakistan U-19 bowlers quickly dispatched two hard hitters—Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre—in the 50-over match. India Under-19 was uncertain after the falls of those two batters.

When Pakistan bowlers were in full charge, Aaron remained like a rock in the middle. Instead of playing flashy shots, his matured knock  relied on technique. While Suryavanshi or Mhatre loved to play with brute force, Aaron added runs with proper timing and footwork. His batting style can remind one of Sanju Samson, who also used to accumulate runs with proper cricketing shots without making any hurry. India U-19 needed someone who could play an anchor role, and Aaron did that precisely. With a high bat lift, he was effective against the Pakistani pacers who were getting extra elevation from the surface.

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Aaron George: next Sanju Samson of India?

The 19-year-old fell short of a well-deserved century as he had to head back to the pavilion after playing 88 balls and an 85-run knock. His innings was laced with one six and 12 boundaries. During the 85-run innings, he first stitched a 49-run partnership with the skipper Ayush Mhatre, and then for the fifth wicket, he crafted a crucial 60-run partnership with Abhigyan Kundu. 

George’s innings came to an end when Pakistan fast bowler Abdul Subhan tested him with a bouncer. Because of Aaron's well-timed knock, India, batting first, registered 240 runs in 46.1 overs against 10 wickets.