India U19 beat Afghanistan U19 by seven wickets in the semi final of the Under 19 World Cup 2026. It was their record highest run chase. Afghanistan Under 19 were batting first and got off to a good start as they were watchful in the initial overs and stitched a 50-run partnership for the opening wicket. India struck for the first wicket in 13th over of the innings as Khalid Ahmadzai departed and Afghanistan were 53/1. Osman Sahdat was the next to depart as they lost their second wicket for 117. Faisal Shinozada and Uzairullah Niazai stitched up a big partnership and kept going at a good tempo as Afghanistan were on the move. Faisal brought up his century and he is among the leading run getter in this tournament and it was a fabulous century by the Afghan batter.
He was dismissed for 110 as the massive partnership was broken and Afghanistan were 265/3. Uzairullah Niazai who had started slowly initially upped his tempo as he made a century and Afghanistan capitalized on the platform as the scored 110 runs of the last 10 overs. It was carnage all around as Afghanistan finished at 310/4 in the first innings. It was a par total but the surface at Harare usually gets better for batting as the match progresses so India was right in the game at the halfway mark.
Teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi started off brilliantly as he smashed a half century in just 24 balls as India Under 19 were on the charge and raced away to 73 runs in 7 overs without the loss of a wicket. Aaron George supported him well and played the second fiddle. Soon after completing his half century Vaibhav departed for a well made 68 runs of 33 balls as India lost their first wicket for 90.
Indian captain Ayush Mhatre played really well as India stitched another partnership between Mhatre and Aaron George. Both players completed their half century as India were cruising to the chase at the end of 21 overs with 172/1 on the board. Mhatre departed but Aaron George scored a terrific century and along with Vihaan kept India ahead of the chase. Aaron could not stay till the end as with just a few runs left he was dismissed. But India Under 19 chased down the target comfortably and won the match by seven wickets. India Under 19 will face England Under 19 in the Final of the U19 WC 2026.
