Four runs needed, one ball left, one wicket in hand, and Pakistan on the other side. India’s Under-19 team could not have asked for a more nerve-racking finish, and they delivered. India U19 beat Pakistan U19 by one wicket off the final ball on Saturday to win the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2026 in Oman, chasing down a mammoth target of 338.
Pakistan had scored 337 for 9 after choosing to bat. India replied with 339 for 9 in exactly 50 overs, with number ten batter Mohit Ulva playing the innings of his life, an unbeaten 49 off 26 balls, to pull off a win that had looked out of reach.
How the Last Over Unfolded
India went into the 50th over needing nine runs with their last pair, Mohit Ulva and Chigurupati Venkata, at the crease. The first ball was a dot, and the pressure went up another notch. A wide brought some relief. Then came four singles in four balls, as the two batters refused to take a risk too early.
That left the equation at four off one ball. Anything less and the trophy was Pakistan’s. India found the boundary, and a chase that had swung one way and then the other all afternoon ended in India’s favour.
The Heroes of India’s Win
| Player | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Mohit Ulva | 49 not out off 26 balls (5 fours, 3 sixes) batting at number ten |
| Lakshya Raichandani (captain) | 80 off 101 balls to anchor the chase |
| Aaryavir Sehwag | 58 off 61 balls in a 95-run opening stand |
| Manal Chauhan | 47 off 32 balls (3 fours, 3 sixes) at number seven |
| Kavya Patel | 4 wickets, including centurion Usman Khan |
| Chigurupati Venkata | 3 wickets at the death, then 11 not out off 8 balls |
The chase was built in three parts. First, captain Lakshya Raichandani and Aaryavir Sehwag, son of former India opener Virender Sehwag, added 95 for the first wicket to give India a platform. Sehwag made a fluent 58, while Raichandani batted deep for his 80, his second big knock in a row after a 93 in the semi-final.
Then, with wickets tumbling and the asking rate rising, Manal Chauhan counter-attacked with 47 off 32 balls. Anvay Dravid, son of Rahul Dravid, chipped in with a quick 19 before being run out.
And finally, there was Ulva. India were nine down when Kavya Patel was dismissed for a duck, and few would have given them a chance. But Ulva kept finding the boundary, striking at 188, and Venkata hit two fours of his own in a priceless 11 not out.
Also Read: IND U-19 vs UAE U-19 Match Result
Pakistan’s 337 Was Not Enough
It was a cruel result for Pakistan, who had done most things right. Opener Usman Khan scored 107 off 111 balls, Abdul Qadir blasted 80 off 54 with eight sixes, and captain Farhan Yousaf made 63. At 274 for 3 after 40 overs, a total of 360 looked possible.
India’s fightback with the ball proved just as important as the batting that followed. Kavya Patel took four wickets and Venkata three as Pakistan lost six wickets in the last ten overs. Those 20 or 30 runs saved at the death turned out to be the difference.
The win also settled a score. Pakistan had beaten India by three wickets in the group stage earlier in the tournament. India did not lose again, beating UAE, Afghanistan and finally Pakistan to lift the trophy.
| Pakistan U19 | 337/9 in 50 overs (Usman Khan 107, Abdul Qadir 80, Farhan Yousaf 63) |
| India U19 | 339/9 in 50 overs (Lakshya Raichandani 80, Aaryavir Sehwag 58, Mohit Ulva 49*, Manal Chauhan 47) |
| Result | India U19 won by 1 wicket |
| Venue | Al Amerat Cricket Ground, Oman |
Also read: Who is Aaryavir Sehwag? All about Virender Sehwag’s son.
