Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: India U19 secured a commanding 100-run victory over England U19 to claim their sixth ICC Under-19 World Cup title on Friday, continuing their dominance in the tournament with previous wins in 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, and 2022. The final at Zimbabwe’s Harare Sports Club saw a spectacular performance from 14-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Sooryavanshi delivered a breathtaking 175 off just 80 balls, hitting 15 fours and 15 sixes, and became the fastest player to reach 150 in Under-19 cricket history, achieving the milestone in 71 deliveries. India, after winning the toss and electing to bat, amassed a massive 411 for 9 in their 50 overs, with captain Ayush Mhatre contributing a composed 53 and Kanishk Chouhan adding crucial late runs to push the total past 400.England, chasing a daunting target, started positively.Early partnerships from Ben Dawkins (66) and Ben Mayes (45) kept them in contention, but regular wickets slowed the chase. Caleb Falconer scored a brilliant 115 off 67 balls to put up a late show. However, it was too late.India’s bowlers shared the workload effectively as Deepesh Devendran picked up two crucial wickets, RS Ambrish took three, and Khilan Patel and Ayush Mhatre struck at key moments to maintain control.England eventually finished on 311 all out in 40.2 overs.Sooryavanshi’s innings was the highlight, registering the highest individual score in an ICC Under-19 final and cementing his reputation as a prodigy ready for bigger stages. ALSO READ: From Virat Kohli to Ayush Mhatre: Check Under-19 World Cup winners list as India beat England in 2026 finalIndia’s balanced team performance, with contributions throughout the lineup, ensured a memorable victory, extending their rich legacy in Under-19 World Cup history.
