India end Pakistan’s U19 World Cup campaign with commanding 58-run victory

The Indian cricket team confirmed its place in the semi-finals of the U19 World Cup 2026 with a comprehensive 58-run win over Pakistan in their final Super Six match at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Sunday. The victory ensured India finished unbeaten at the top of Super Six Group 2, while Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the last four were ended.

India innings

Put in to bat in a high-pressure contest, five-time champions India overcame early setbacks to post a competitive total of 252 before being bowled out in 49.5 overs. Openers Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Aaron George gave India a steady start, adding 47 runs for the first wicket. Suryavanshi, who made 30 off 22 balls, looked set to accelerate before edging to the wicketkeeper in the eighth over. He had survived a dropped catch in the deep and a run-out chance on the previous delivery.

The dismissal triggered a brief collapse as Mohammad Sayyam removed Indian captain Ayush Mhatre for a duck with the final ball of the eighth over, and Abdul Subhan bowled George with the first delivery of the ninth. India slipped from 47/0 to 47/3, placing the innings under pressure.


Vedant Trivedi then played a decisive role in rebuilding the innings. Batting with composure, he added 62 runs with Vihaan Malhotra to take India past the 100-run mark. Trivedi completed his half-century off 74 balls and anchored the innings through the middle phase. He went on to share additional partnerships with Abhigyan Kundu and RS Ambrish, providing stability as wickets fell at the other end.

Trivedi was eventually dismissed for 68, ending a fighting knock that held the innings together. Ambrish departed as India reached the 200-run mark in the 44th over. A mature and timely 50-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Kanishk Chouhan and Khilan Patel ensured India crossed 250. Chouhan scored 35, Ambrish contributed 29, and Khilan added a quick 21 off 15 balls. Pakistan’s slow fielding and the requirement to bowl the final overs with an extra fielder inside the 30-yard circle proved costly, as 39 runs came off the last four overs. India were finally bowled out for 252, with Abdul Subhan finishing as the most successful Pakistani bowler with figures of 3/33.

Pakistan innings

Chasing 252 and needing to reach the target within 33.3 overs to qualify for the semi-finals, Pakistan made an aggressive start through openers Sameer Minhas and Hamza Zahoor. However, the partnership was broken early when Henil Patel trapped Minhas LBW in the fourth over. Minhas had been a key figure in Pakistan’s U19 Asia Cup final win over India in December, where he scored a century.

Usman Khan joined Hamza in the middle, and the pair added 65 runs to keep Pakistan in contention. Despite rotating the strike, the Indian bowlers, particularly the spinners, maintained tight lines and lengths to control the scoring rate. Hamza survived a leg-before appeal against Kanishk Chouhan, but the delivery deflected onto the stumps to give India a crucial breakthrough.

From 88/2 in the 17th over, Pakistan’s chase began to lose momentum. The required run rate continued to climb, and wickets fell at regular intervals. Pakistan were 167/4 at the 33.3-over mark, effectively ending their hopes of forcing a result in their favour.

Usman Khan top-scored with 66 off 92 balls but failed to accelerate when required and was bowled by Mhatre in the 36th over. Pakistan continued to struggle against India’s varied spin attack and disciplined pace bowling, eventually being dismissed for 194 in 46.2 overs.

Ayush Mhatre was the standout bowler for India with figures of 3/21, while Khilan Patel also impressed with 3/35. India’s depth in spin options proved decisive on a pitch that offered considerable turn during the afternoon.

The win secured India’s place in the semi-finals as Super Six Group 2 winners. They will face Group 1 runners-up Afghanistan on Wednesday for a place in the final, with England and Australia being the other two teams to progress to the last four.