India defeat Afghanistan to book meeting with Pakistan in U19 Asia Cup final

India Under-19s reached the Men's U19 Asia Cup final after defeating Afghanistan by 8 wickets in the semifinal at Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman on November 12. Chasing a target of 228, India completed the chase in 36.5 overs, ending Afghanistan's unbeaten run through the tournament.

Captain Lakshya Raichandani anchored the chase with 93 off 90 balls, an innings that included 13 fours and 1 six. He shared a productive stand with Aaryavir Sehwag, who contributed a steady knock before departing, and the pair gave India a platform from which the chase never looked in doubt. VK Vineeth then finished the job with an unbeaten 57 off 62 balls, guiding India to 230 for 2 and past the target with deliveries to spare.

Afghanistan had entered the semifinal having topped Group B without a defeat, while India had secured second position in Group A. The Afghan bowling attack, which included Sohail Khan, Amir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Faridullah Ihsas, Bilal Salimankhil, Noor Ali Niazi and Shah Faisal Rahimi, could not prevent Raichandani and Vineeth from taking the game away from them in the middle and final overs.

India's bowling effort earlier in the match was shared across the squad. Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan, Mohit Ulva, Kavya Patel, Ishan Sood, Manal Chauhan and Aryan Savsani all contributed to restricting Afghanistan to 227, with Arjun Rajput and Anvay Dravid also playing their parts. Afghanistan's batting lineup, featuring Abidullah Nadarjan, Noman Salarzai, Tahir Sarwary and Subhan Zakhail among others, could not post a total large enough to defend.

How did India's batting lineup construct the chase?

Raichandani set the tone from the top of the order, rotating the strike efficiently before accelerating. His 93 was the cornerstone of the chase, and he received strong support from Sehwag in the early overs. Once Sehwag departed, Vineeth joined Raichandani, and the two batters ensured India did not lose momentum. Vineeth's unbeaten 57 took India past 228 with eight wickets in hand, a margin that reflected the comfort with which the chase was completed.

Afghanistan's bowlers, including Sohail Khan as captain and Amir Hamza, tried to create pressure at various stages, but Raichandani and Vineeth handled the conditions at Al Amerat without difficulty. The innings also featured contributions from Aryan Savsani, who was part of the squad alongside Anvay Dravid as wicketkeeper. India's total of 230 for 2 in 36.5 overs underlined the quality of their batting performance on the day.

Who will India face in the U19 Asia Cup final?

India will meet Pakistan in the final of the 2026 Men's U19 Asia Cup. Pakistan reached the final after defeating Bangladesh by 9 wickets in the other semifinal. The final is scheduled to be played at Al Amerat Cricket Ground, though the exact date has not been confirmed in the available evidence.