In a rain-soaked showdown that had fans on the edge of their seats, India's U19 cricket team delivered a masterclass, demolishing rivals Pakistan by a whopping 90 runs in the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup 2025 at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai.
The victory on December 14 not only avenged past defeats but also catapulted the young Men in Blue to the top of Group A with two wins from two games. Next up for the unbeaten side is a clash against Malaysia on Tuesday.
The match, reduced to 49 overs per side due to persistent drizzle, kicked off with added drama—no handshakes between captains Ayush Mhatre and Farhan Yousaf, underscoring the intense Indo-Pak rivalry. Pakistan, winning the toss, opted to bowl first, but India's batters set a challenging tone.
Openers Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Mhatre fired early boundaries off Ali Raza and Mohammad Sayyam, racing to 29/0 in three overs. Mhatre's explosive 38 off 25 balls, laced with four fours and three sixes, gave India momentum before Sayyam struck back, dismissing Suryavanshi for 5.
Enter Aaron Varghese (noted as Aaron George in updates), who anchored the innings with a gritty 85 off 88 deliveries—12 fours and a six—steering India to 240 all out in 46.1 overs. Vihaan Malhotra chipped in with 12, while Abhigyan Kundu added 22, including a massive six.
Pakistan's bowlers fought back valiantly; Mohammad Sayyam and Abdul Subhan claimed three wickets each, restricting the flow in the middle overs. Kanishk Chouhan's quick 46 off 46 provided late fireworks, but India folded just short of 250.
Chasing 241, Pakistan's top order crumbled under India's relentless bowling attack. Pacer Deepesh Devendran was the wrecker-in-chief, ripping through with 3/20 to leave Pakistan reeling at 30/4. His victims included opener Sameer Minhas (9), Ali Hassan Baloch (duck), and later Ahmed Hussain, setting a tone of dominance. Kishan Kumar snared two, while Chouhan's 3/33 complemented his batting, earning him Player of the Match honors.
Huzaifa Ahsan offered brief resistance with a fighting 70, smashing boundaries and a six against Chouhan and Khilan Patel. But once Vaibhav Suryavanshi caught him off Chouhan at 138/8, Pakistan's middle order imploded.
Captain Farhan Yousaf (23) and others fell cheaply, with the innings folding for 150 in 41.1 overs. Kishan Singh sealed the win by dismissing Ali Raza.
This triumph erases Pakistan's streak of three straight U19 wins over India, including an Emerging Asia Cup under-23 clash. Fresh off a 234-run thrashing of UAE—where Suryavanshi's 171 lit up the opener—India's bowlers, led by Devendran's fire, showed maturity beyond their years. The no-handshake snub added spice, but on-field, India's unity shone through in wild celebrations after key wickets.
As the U19 Asia Cup heats up, this Dubai derby reaffirms India's supremacy in junior cricket. Fans, mark your calendars for more IND vs PAK fireworks. Stay tuned for live scores and updates on Bhaskar English—your go-to for cricket thrills!
,-fasting-rules-&-rituals-guide.jpg)
