India Clinches U-19 Asia Cup with Thrilling Win Over Pakistan

New Delhi, November 14 (Daily Kiran) : India triumphed over Pakistan in a nail-biting finish, winning the Men’s U-19 Asia Cup by just one wicket at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground on November 14. Aryavir Sehwag was a standout performer, scoring 58 runs and finishing as the tournament’s highest run-scorer with 361 runs at an average of 90.25 across five matches.

Pakistan set a challenging target, scoring 337 runs for the loss of nine wickets, bolstered by a century from Usman Khan, who scored 107 runs. Abdul Qadir contributed 80 runs, while captain Farhan Yusuf added 63. On the Indian side, Kavy Patel was the pick of the bowlers, claiming four wickets, and Chigurupati Venkata took three.

In response, India achieved the target on the final ball. Captain Lakshya Raichandani scored 80 runs, and Sehwag’s 58 was crucial. Manal Chauhan added 47 runs, while Mohit Ulva, who hit the winning boundary, remained unbeaten on 49.

Coach Raju Sharma praised Sehwag’s contribution, stating, “This is a significant achievement. Aryavir’s performance deserves recognition, especially after he scored just 22 runs in the previous match against Pakistan. Watching the game with his father, Virender Sehwag, and his younger brother made it even more special. Winning against Pakistan is a major accomplishment, and I am very proud of the Indian U-19 team.”

Meanwhile, Jwala Singh, the childhood coach of Indian cricketer Yashasvi Jaiswal, remarked on the intensity of India-Pakistan matches, noting, “The excitement is always high, and India usually has the upper hand. However, when Pakistan set a score of 337, it seemed daunting for the junior level. Despite losing wickets in the middle order, the outcome was as it should be.”

Rajkumar Sharma, childhood coach of Virat Kohli, celebrated the victory, saying, “This is a fantastic win. Congratulations to the Indian U-19 team for their teamwork and the way they chased down the score, which deserves commendation.”