India U19 Beat Pakistan U19 to Enter U19 World Cup 2026 Semifinals

India U19 powered into the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 semifinals with a clinical 58-run win over Pakistan U19 at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, knocking their rivals out after a pressure-heavy group clash shaped by net run-rate equations.

Batting first after calling correctly at the toss, India recovered from an early wobble to post 252 all out in the final over. Pakistan’s seamers made the new ball talk and reduced India to 109 for 4, but Vedant Trivedi steadied the innings with a measured 68 off 98 balls. He rebuilt through the middle overs, absorbed pressure, and allowed India to reset. Late momentum came through Kanishk Chouhan’s brisk 35 and Khilan Patel’s unbeaten 21, which stretched the total beyond par.

Abdul Subhan stood out for Pakistan with 3 for 33, mixing pace and variations well, but the support at the back end fell away as India added crucial runs in the last phase.

Pakistan’s chase came with a built-in complication. To stay alive, they needed not just a win but a rapid one, required to reach the 253 target inside 33.3 overs. That equation forced an all-out approach from the start. The early intent brought boundaries, but also wickets. Once the required rate slipped out of reach, the innings lost structure.

India captain Ayush Mhatre rotated his bowlers sharply and attacked with spin through the middle. Mhatre and Khilan Patel shared six wickets between them as Pakistan slid from 159 for 3 to 194 all out in 46.2 overs.

Patel’s all-round effort earned him the match award and drew praise from his skipper. “We knew the NRR was in the back of their minds, and we used that to our advantage by keeping the fields tight,” said Mhatre. “The boys showed incredible character after the early wickets, and now we look forward to the knockouts.”

India now moves on to the semifinals, while Pakistan’s campaign ends despite arriving as recent Asia Cup champions.