India Under-19 booked their place in the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2026 final with a comfortable eight-wicket win over Afghanistan Under-19 in the second semi-final at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman on Thursday, 12 November 2026. Chasing 228, India reached 230/2 in just 36.5 overs, finishing the game with 79 balls to spare. Captain Lakshya Raichandani led the chase with a fluent 93 off 90 balls.
The win sets up a blockbuster final against Pakistan on Saturday, 14 November 2026 — the same two teams that contested the previous edition’s title clash.
Brief Scores
| Team | Score | Top Performers |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan U19 | 227/8 in 50 overs | Noman Salarzai 51, Shah Faisal Rahimi 51; Ishan Sood 3/43, Aryan Savsani 2/29 |
| India U19 | 230/2 in 36.5 overs | Lakshya Raichandani 93 (90 balls), VK Vineeth 57* |
| Result | India U19 won by 8 wickets (79 balls remaining) | |
How the Match Unfolded
Afghanistan, who had won all three of their group games, batted first and were kept in check by a disciplined Indian bowling effort led by pacer Ishan Sood (3/43). Half-centuries from Noman Salarzai (51) and Shah Faisal Rahimi (51), along with a late push from captain Sohail Khan, took Afghanistan to 227/8 in their 50 overs — a total that always looked below par on a good batting surface.
India’s reply was controlled from the start. Raichandani and Aaryavir Sehwag put on an opening stand of 117, after which the captain carried on to make 93 with 13 fours and a six, narrowly missing a century. VK Vineeth then finished the chase in style, racing to an unbeaten 57 and sealing the win with a six in the 37th over.
India vs Pakistan Final on 14 November
Pakistan, the defending champions, had earlier beaten Bangladesh by nine wickets in the first semi-final, so Saturday’s final at Al Amerat (10:30 AM IST) is a repeat of last year’s title match, which Pakistan won. Pakistan also beat India by three wickets when the two sides met in the group stage on 8 November, so India will be chasing both the trophy and revenge in the final.
FAQs
Q1. Who won the IND U19 vs AFG U19 semi-final? India Under-19 won by 8 wickets, chasing down 228 in 36.5 overs.
Q2. Who was India’s top scorer against Afghanistan U19? Captain Lakshya Raichandani scored 93 off 90 balls, while VK Vineeth remained unbeaten on 57.
Q3. When is the U19 Asia Cup 2026 final? The final between India and Pakistan will be played on Saturday, 14 November 2026 at Al Amerat, Oman, starting 10:30 AM IST.
Q4. Where was the IND U19 vs AFG U19 semi-final played? At the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman on 12 November 2026.