“A place in the final was earned through patience, power, and perfect timing.”
India Under-19s reached the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2026 final after they dominated Afghanistan in the semi-final in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat. They scored a strong 310 for 4 in 50 overs.
Faisal Shinozada led with 110 runs, while Uzairullah Niazai stayed unbeaten on 101. Their partnership pushed Afghanistan to a big total and gave them hope of a place in the final.
India chased with calm and control. They got to 311 for 3 in just 41.1 overs and won by seven wickets with time to spare. The run rate stayed high from the start, and the pressure never shifted back to Afghanistan.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gave India a flying start with 68 off 33 balls. Captain Ayush Mhatre added 62, and Aaron George struck a match-winning 115 off 104 balls. George controlled the innings and made the big target look comfortable. The judges named him Player of the Match for his century.
With this win, India booked another U19 World Cup final and will now face England in the title clash, with the trophy just one game away.