U19 World Cup Final 2026: India Beat England by 100 Runs to Win Record Sixth Title

 

 

Harare: India once again stamped its dominance on world cricket by winning the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026, defeating England by a massive 100-run margin in the final at Harare Sports Club. Under the leadership of captain Ayush Mhatre, Team India delivered an all-round performance to lift the prestigious trophy for a record sixth time, further strengthening its status as the most successful team in U19 World Cup history.

 

India had earlier won the title in 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018 and 2022, and with this victory, they continued their remarkable consistency by reaching every U19 World Cup final since 2016.

 

Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s Historic Knock

After winning the toss, India opted to bat first and faced an early setback when Aaron George was dismissed for 9 runs with the score at 20. However, the early loss did not slow India down, thanks to a breathtaking innings from Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who played one of the greatest knocks in U19 World Cup history.

 

Suryavanshi stitched a crucial 142-run partnership for the second wicket with skipper Ayush Mhatre, stabilizing the innings and then accelerating at an astonishing pace. Mhatre scored a composed 53 runs off 51 balls, including seven boundaries and two sixes, before being dismissed. After that, Suryavanshi completely took charge of the innings.

 

The young batting sensation brought up his century in just 55 balls and went on to score a sensational 175 runs, smashing 15 fours and 15 sixes. His innings was not only the highest individual score in a U19 World Cup final but also helped him become the first cricketer in youth ODI history to hit 100 sixes.

 

Powered by Suryavanshi’s explosive batting and valuable contributions from the middle order, India posted a daunting total of 411 runs in 50 overs, putting England under immense pressure.

 

England’s Chase and Indian Bowling Brilliance

Chasing a mammoth target of 412 runs, England started cautiously and struggled in the initial overs. Although Joseph Moores tried to inject momentum early on, wickets at regular intervals kept England on the back foot. Ben Dawkins and Ben Mayes added some stability and quick runs in the middle overs, with Dawkins scoring a fluent 66 and Mayes contributing 45 off 28 balls.

 

At the halfway stage, England were 171 for 3, still hopeful of mounting a fight. However, the match turned decisively in India’s favor when the bowlers struck in quick succession. The dismissals of Dawkins, Ralphie Albert, Farhan Ahmed and Sebastian Morgan in a short span completely derailed England’s chase.

 

Caleb Faulkner’s Lone Fight

With England reeling at 177 for 7, the result looked inevitable, but Caleb Faulkner produced a remarkable counter-attacking innings. He smashed a brilliant 115 runs off 67 balls, completing his hundred in just 63 deliveries. James Minto supported him well with 28 runs, and together they added a fighting 92-run partnership.

 

Despite their efforts, the required run rate proved too steep. In the 41st over, Kanishk Chauhan dismissed Faulkner, effectively sealing the match for India. England were eventually bowled out for 311 runs.

 

Match Summary

India’s bowlers shared the spoils, with RS Ambrish picking up three wickets, while Deepesh Devendran and Kanishk Chauhan claimed two wickets each.

 

This commanding victory, coming just ahead of the T20 World Cup, highlights the depth of talent in Indian cricket. The emergence of stars like Vaibhav Suryavanshi signals a bright and promising future for Team India on the global stage.