Bulawayo: India entered the semi-finals of the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 on Sunday. The Ayush Mhatre-led team defeated Pakistan by 58 runs in the final Super Six match. Setting a target of 253 at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, India bowled them out for 194 in 46.2 overs. Pakistan needed to win in 33.3 overs to reach the semi-finals, but India thwarted their dream. India is the fourth team to qualify for the semi-finals. Australia, England, and Afghanistan preceded them.
Who will India squatter next?
India will now squatter Afghanistan in the second semi-final on February 4. The match will uncork at 1:00 PM IST at the Harare Sports Club. The first semi-final of the tournament will be played between Australia and England in Bulawayo on February 3rd. India topped Group 2 in the Super Six round. India has 8 points. The Ayush Brigade did not lose a single match in the tournament. Meanwhile, England is in second place with eight points. India's net run rate ( 2.620) was largest than England's ( 1.757). Australia topped Group 1 with eight points. Afghanistan has six points.
How did Pakistan batters perform?
Speaking of the match, Usman Khan scored the most runs for Pakistan. He scored 66 runs in 92 balls with seven fours. Opener Hamza Zahoor scored 42 runs in 49 balls. Tutorage Farhan Yousuf scored 38 runs in 39 balls. Six Pakistani players, including Sameer Minhas (9) and Ahmed Hussain (2), failed to reach double figures. For India, Khilan Patel and tutorage Ayush took three wickets each. Kanishk Chauhan, RS Ambris, Henil Patel, and Vihaan Malhotra each took one wicket. Earlier, without losing the toss, India scored 252 runs in 49.5 overs versus arch-rivals Pakistan.
How did Indian batters perform?
Vaibhav Suryavanshi (30 runs from 22 balls) gave the Indian team an warlike start but was dismissed while attempting a pull shot despite stuff given a life. Tutorage Ayush Mhatre (0)'s poor form in youth ODIs continued, stuff dismissed for a duck off the first ball. Meanwhile, the other opener, Aaron George (16), failed to score a big innings. Vihaan Malhotra (21) steadied the Indian innings without losing three wickets at 47, sharing a 62-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Vedant Trivedi. Vedant played a restrained innings of 68 runs from 98 balls. India posted a challenging total thanks to a 50-run stand for the eighth wicket between all-rounders Kanishk Chauhan and Khilan Patel.
