India U19 vs Afghanistan U19, 2nd Semi-Final (B,C1 v A,D2), ICC Under 19 World Cup 2026 - Commentary

So two unbeaten teams in the final - India and England. It should be a cracker. We will be there for that one. That's on the 6th of February. We will be there nice and early for that one. Do join us then. Meanwhile catch up on a whole host of cricket on this platform. Time to escape. See you soon.

Ayush Mhatre | India captain: The feeling is really nice and to play a World Cup final is really nice. (on thoughts at the halfway point) The start was really nice from Afghanistan batters, but in middle overs the bowler also bowled really well, but in the end, like 40-50th overs, they just batted really well. And the discussion was simple, just bat in a natural game. The wicket was really playing nice and it was really a patta wicket, so there was a simple discussion, just play a natural game and it will be easy total for us. (on Sooryavanshi) Yeah, he played a major role in our chase because he just started really well and just in 10 overs, 90 runs was really good and the pressure was released from him, so it was easy for us to build the innings. (on Aaron George) He's a fabulous batsman and he just plays... he's a classy batsman. So in this tournament he doesn't have many scores but he was batting really well. So we were just confident enough that he'll just play his natural game and then he just built the innings really nice. (on the conditions here) The conditions are really nice in this Harare stadium and the boys are also doing well and we'll just keep simple, just play our game and good attitude on the field. (on what he wants to say to the fans back home) Just support us, you are supporting really nice for us and just we'll play, we'll try our 110% on the field. We'll just try to win this match. (if the recovery time is enough before the final) Yeah, it is enough because we are used to these conditions. We have played enough cricket in India. So we also play one day after also, so we are used to these conditions and hope that we will recover well.

Mahboob Khan | Afghanistan captain: Today is a very good batting. Faisal and Uzair Khan, very good batting because total is 310. A good total but we missed two catches in the first circle. Bowlers are not bowling line and length, that's why we lose the match. Yeah today's batting is very good. We plan 250, the total. 310 is a very big total. Our fielding is very bad, we lost the match. (on Faisal) Faisal is in very good touch, he is the best scorer in the tournament and Uzair also good batting. They are the future stars. They work really hard. (on the pitch) Yeah, but wicket is good for batting, in the morning. In the 2nd innings also it was good for batting. The total is very big but it's a part of the game. A bad day today. (on him enjoying captaincy) Yeah, I'm proud of Afghanistan under-19 and my player. I'm very happy because we are going to qualifier round and we come back strong. Straight in the semi-final. (then goes on to say a message in Pashto for the fans)

Aaron George | Player of the Match: I think I was very grateful that I got the opportunity to do this, and also crucial game for the team, so very happy to be able to contribute. I knew that I've been batting well throughout, so the conversion as you told, it did matter. And yeah, very happy and I'm happy I trusted that I had this coming and kept believing in my batting. (on the team looking good) Definitely, definitely. I think everybody almost played to their full potential and I'm very happy to see our top-order doing so well. And yeah, looking forward to the big final.

Stats update by Roshan Gede

This was also the highest successful run-chase for India in U19 ODIs, bettering 304 against England in Taunton in 2002.

Most sixes in an U19 WC edition
18 - Dewald Brevis in 2022
15 - Jack Burnham in 2016
15 - Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in 2026
14 - Michael Hill in 2008
14 - Nicholas Pooran in 2014

100s in U19 WC semifinals
Six across first 15 editions
Five in 2026

100s for IND in U19 WC knockouts
129* - Cheteshwar Pujara vs ENG, Colombo RPS, 2006 SF
115 - Aaron George vs AFG, Harare, 2026 SF
111* - Unmukt Chand vs AUS, Townsville, 2012 Final
111 - Rishabh Pant vs NAM, Fatullah, 2016 QF
110 - Yash Dhull vs AUS, Coolidge 2022 SF
108 - Ravneet Ricky vs AUS, Colombo PSS, 2000 SF
105* - Yashasvi Jaiswal vs PAK, Potchefstroom, 2020 SF
102* - Shubman Gill vs PAK, Christchurch, 2018 SF
101* - Manjot Kalra vs AUS, Mount Maunganui, 2018 Final

This was the first time that there were 50-plus stands for the first three wickets in both innings of an U19 ODI.

53 balls remaining is the most for a successful 250-plus chase in U19 WC, after 138 for Sri Lanka against Scotland (target: 270) in Potchefstroom in 2024.

621 is the second-highest match-aggregate in an U19 WC playoff game, only behind 631 between Australia and Ireland (340/5 vs 291/9) in Chattogram in 2004 (Plate semi-final).

Highest targets successfully chased in U19 WC
311 - IND vs AFG, Harare, 2026
305 - NZ vs IRE, Colombo RPS, 2006
294 - SA vs BAN, Coolidge, 2022
292 - WI vs SL, Christchurch, 2010
279 - WI vs IRE, Lincoln, 2018

Live visuals show VVS Laxman, Sunil Joshi and Hrishikesh Kanitkar having a chat with one of the groundstaff. Laxman slaps hands with that groundstaff - a sign of appreciation. The Indian trio then inspect the pitch and the popping crease.

16:45 Local Time, 14:45 GMT, 20:15 IST: What a domineering performance by India. They have made mincemeat of a record chase with absolute disdain. Many expected 311 to be very tough when the 2nd innings started but Sooryavanshi was belligerent in the powerplay. He was dropped and made Afghanistan pay a heavy price for that. Aaron George who had a poor tournament till today came good on the big day with a classy 100 full of eye-catching strokes. The job was completed in 41.1 overs which shows how good India were with the bat. The wicket was flat and there was nothing to trouble them but still to win with so much to spare speaks volumes of the natural ability of the Indians in this setup. Afghanistan were left to rue their catching and once Sooryavanshi got going, the game slipped away from them. So in 16 editions of this tournament, India have now made their 10th final. Stay tuned for the post-match stuff...