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India U19 face Pakistan U19 in Asia Cup final at Al Amerat

India seeks a record-extending ninth title against defending champions Pakistan.

By , Editor

· 2 min read

A cricket match, general view
Cricket match (general file photo, not from this event) Photo: Thomas Bremond / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

India will play Pakistan in the Under-19 Asia Cup final in Muscat on Saturday. India aims to reclaim the title after losing last year's final.

Key takeaways

  • India will play Pakistan in the U19 Asia Cup final in Muscat on Saturday.
  • India is hunting for its record-extending ninth U19 Asia Cup title.
  • Pakistan beat India by 151 runs in last year's final for its second title.
  • Aaryavir Sehwag leads the tournament run chart with 303 runs from four matches.
  • Ishan Sood has taken 11 wickets from four matches for India.

India will meet Pakistan in the Under-19 Asia Cup final at Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 2) in Al Amerat, Muscat on Saturday. 5 overs. Pakistan secured its place with a nine-wicket win over Bangladesh.

India will hunt for a record-extending ninth U19 Asia Cup trophy and seek to avenge its group-stage and final defeats to Pakistan this year and last year.

India’s route to the final

India’s run to the final has been defined by individual performances rather than a collective team effort. Aaryavir Sehwag leads the tournament’s run chart with 303 runs from four matches at an average of 101, including one hundred and two fifties.

Ishan Sood has taken 11 wickets from four matches to lead India’s bowling. Skipper Lakshya Raichandani made 93 off 90 balls against Afghanistan, sharing a 117-run opening stand with Sehwag, who scored 51 off 57.

VK Vineeth remained unbeaten on 57 off 62 balls, and Yashbardhan Chauhan finished unbeaten on 16 as India won with 79 balls to spare. Earlier, Sood took three wickets for 43 runs and Aryan Savsani claimed two as Afghanistan were bowled out for 227 for eight.

Pakistan’s threat

Pakistan is the defending champion after beating India by 151 runs in last year’s final for its second U19 Asia Cup title. Usman Khan has scored 238 runs and Rizwanullah has taken 11 wickets for Pakistan this tournament.

Hamza Zahoor struck an unbeaten century against India in the group stage. Rizwanullah took five for 30 to bowl Bangladesh out for 138 in the semi-final, before Hayam Khan scored 69 and Usman Khan made 64 not out to guide Pakistan to a nine-wicket win.

Mohammad Sayyam has taken eight wickets and Ali Raza six for Pakistan’s bowling unit.

What India needs to improve

Beyond Sehwag and Sood, India’s other batters and bowlers have flickered in isolation. Skipper Lakshya Raichandani, wicketkeeper-batter Anvay Dravid, and middle-order batters Arjun Rajput and VK Vinneeth have not consistently delivered. Rajput made a breezy hundred against Pakistan in the group-stage match India lost.

Spinners Rajput and Manal Chauhan have taken five wickets each, but three of those wickets came in a single match. India will need stronger support for its lead performers to beat a strong Pakistan side.

Captain’s view and what happens next

India captain Lakshya Raichandani said after the semi-final win: “Yeah, it’s going to be a good final, and everyone’s waiting for that.

” India is the most successful team in the U19 Asia Cup, having won the title eight times, while Pakistan and Bangladesh have won it twice each. India lost only the second U19 Asia Cup final in its history last year, going down to Pakistan.

The final will be played on Saturday at Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 2) in Al Amerat, Muscat.

Key performers in the U19 Asia Cup

Player

Team

Runs

Wickets

Aaryavir Sehwag

India

303

Ishan Sood

India

11

Usman Khan

Pakistan

238

Rizwanullah

Pakistan

11

Sources

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