Summary India beat defending champions Pakistan by one wicket on the final ball to win the 2026 Under-19 Asia Cup after a thrilling 338-run chase in Oman.
MUSCAT (Dunya News) – India Under-19 pulled off a dramatic one-wicket victory over Pakistan in the ACC Men's Under-19 Asia Cup 2026 final, chasing down a challenging 338-run target on the final delivery of a gripping contest in Al Amerat, Oman, on Saturday.
The high-scoring final delivered a fitting climax to the tournament, with India securing the title after a tense run chase that went down to the last ball. Pakistan, who had entered the final as defending champions and an unbeaten side, came agonisingly close to retaining their crown but could not prevent their arch-rivals from crossing the finish line.
The result also marked a significant turnaround from the previous edition, when Pakistan had beaten India in the final to claim their maiden Under-19 Asia Cup trophy.
India U19 have comeback from a certain defeat to lift the #DPWorldMensU19AsiaCup2026 Title #GrandFinale #PAKvIND #ACC https://t.co/frVbuE5dmL
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) November 14, 2026
Pakistan made full use of the opportunity after captain Farhan Yousaf won the toss and elected to bat first, finishing their 50 overs at 337 for nine.
The defending champions began aggressively, with Usman Khan and Hayam Khan adding 62 runs for the opening wicket. Hayam departed for 21, but Usman found an excellent partner in Abdul Qadir, who launched a powerful counterattack against the Indian bowling attack.
The pair added 135 runs for the second wicket, putting Pakistan in a commanding position. Qadir smashed 80 off just 54 deliveries, including eight sixes and three fours, while Usman anchored the innings with a superb 107 off 111 balls.
Captain Farhan Yousaf provided further momentum with 63 off 60 deliveries, helping Pakistan push towards a total of 350.
India, however, managed to pull things back during the latter stages of the innings. Right-arm seamer Kavya Patel was the standout bowler, claiming four wickets for 68 runs in his 10 overs. Chigurupati Venkata also made an important contribution with three wickets for 40 runs.
Pakistan eventually finished on 337 for nine, leaving India with a challenging target of 338 to win the championship.
India began their chase with Aaryavir Sehwag and captain Lakshya Raichandani at the crease. The opening pair provided a strong platform, putting together 95 runs before Sehwag was dismissed for 58 off 61 balls.
The young opener, son of former India international Virender Sehwag, continued his impressive tournament with another half-century, striking nine boundaries.
Raichandani also played a crucial innings, contributing 68 runs as India attempted to maintain momentum against Pakistan's disciplined bowling attack.
Pakistan kept the contest alive by picking up wickets at regular intervals, preventing India from building the kind of partnerships needed to comfortably chase the imposing target.
With the required runs mounting and the pressure increasing, the final stages turned into a nerve-racking battle between the two sides.
India eventually managed to reach 338 for nine in their allotted 50 overs, with Mohit Ulva hitting the decisive boundary off the final delivery to seal an extraordinary victory.
The one-wicket result brought an end to Pakistan's hopes of defending their title and handed India their ninth Under-19 Asia Cup championship.
