India’s young cricketers produced a commanding performance to secure their record-extending sixth ICC Under-19 World Cup crown, defeating England by 100 runs in the final at Harare Sports Club on February 6, 2026. The triumph marked a fitting conclusion to a flawless campaign, with the team winning every match en route to the title.
Captain Ayush Mhatre won the toss and elected to bat first on a good batting surface. What followed was an extraordinary batting display, led by 14-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The left-hander unleashed an astonishing unbeaten 175 off just 80 balls, studded with 15 fours and 15 sixes. His innings set a new benchmark for the tournament, including the fastest century (off 55 balls) and the highest individual score in a U19 World Cup final. Sooryavanshi’s blistering strokeplay propelled India to the highest total ever recorded in a U19 World Cup final.
Sooryavanshi shared a crucial 142-run stand with skipper Ayush Mhatre, who contributed a steady 53 off 51 balls. Early in the innings, opener Aaron George departed for 9, but Sooryavanshi’s aggressive approach kept the scoreboard ticking rapidly. The team reached 250/2 at the halfway stage and continued accelerating. After Sooryavanshi’s departure, a minor wobble occurred, but Abhigyan Kundu (40) and Kanishk Chouhan (37 off 20 balls) provided valuable cameos. Chouhan’s late hitting, including a six in the final over, helped India post 411/9 in their 50 overs — the largest total in U19 World Cup final history.
England’s chase of 412 began promisingly, reaching 93/1 in the early overs. Openers Ben Dawkins (65) and Ben Mayes (45) laid a solid platform, while Caleb Falconer played a spirited counter-attacking innings. Falconer smashed a century off just 63 balls, keeping England in the contest for a period and taking the score past 300. However, the middle order crumbled under pressure from India’s disciplined bowling attack.
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A dramatic collapse saw England lose six wickets for 84 runs, sliding from 93/1 to 177/7. RS Ambrish claimed three wickets, while Deepesh Devendran and Kanishk Chouhan picked up two each. Khilan Patel and Ayush Mhatre also chipped in with key scalps. Falconer’s valiant 115 ultimately proved insufficient, and England were dismissed for 311 in 40.2 overs.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was named Player of the Match and Player of the Series for his tournament-defining contributions. The victory was celebrated by former India captains Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir, who congratulated the team on their achievement.
Captain Ayush Mhatre expressed immense pride in the moment, highlighting Sooryavanshi’s exceptional innings and the team’s collective effort. England skipper Thomas Rew acknowledged the challenge posed by Sooryavanshi’s knock but praised his side’s fight, particularly Falconer’s outstanding century.
The result underlined India’s dominance in U19 cricket, cementing their status as the most successful team in the tournament’s history with six titles.
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