India Storm Into U19 World Cup Final/sbkinews.in
India’s U19 juggernaut rolled into the ICC U19 World Cup 2025 final with a comprehensive 140-run victory over Afghanistan in the semifinal at Mangaung Oval, Benoni, reaching 311/6 before bundling out the Afghans for 171 to book a blockbuster title clash against England who edged New Zealand in the other semi.
Captain Mohammed Ameen’s masterful 103 and Adarsh Singh’s supporting 75 powered India past 300 on a batsman-friendly surface, while the bowling attack led by Saumy Kumar Pandey (4/43) and Yudhvir Singh (3/29) triggered a middle-order collapse after Afghanistan openers Abdul Hadi and Mahdi Zadran threatened a chase with a 70-run stand.
This dominant performance—India’s seventh straight win—extends their unbeaten streak to 15 matches across editions, positioning skipper Ameen for a historic double after his 2024 triumph and cementing India’s stranglehold on the tournament they’ve won six times since 2000.
India’s depth and composure make them overwhelming favorites for a record-extending seventh crown.
Ameen-Adarsh Century Partnership: 189-Run Foundation
Captain Mohammed Ameen anchored India’s innings with a composed 103 off 105 balls (11 fours, 2 sixes), reaching his ton with a trademark cover drive off left-arm spinner Noor Rahman before falling to a top-edged sweep in the 41st over. Opening partner Adarsh Singh complemented with 75 off 92 (7 fours), their 189-run stand in 25.3 overs blunting Afghanistan’s seam attack during the crucial middle phase after India lost early wickets of Ayush Mhatre (12) and Harnoor Pannu (8).
Key Batting Contributions:
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | Strike Rate | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammed Ameen | 103 | 105 | 98.09 | c wk b Rahman |
| Adarsh Singh | 75 | 92 | 81.52 | lbw b Kakar |
| Yudhvir Singh | 52* | 38 | 136.84 | not out |
| Utkarsh Patel | 41 | 25 | 164.00 | c Zadran b Jamali |
Ameen’s leadership knock featured fluent strokeplay against spin while Adarsh rotated strike masterfully on a pitch offering early seam movement.
India Storm Into U19 World Cup Final/sbkinews.in
Afghanistan Crumble Under Pressure: 140-Run Rout
Chasing 312, Afghanistan started brightly with openers Abdul Hadi (45 off 58) and Mahdi Zadran (32 off 45) adding 70 inside 15 overs before spinner Saumy Kumar Pandey sparked a collapse, claiming 4/43 including the vital wickets of Suliman Safi and captain Hamid Rahman. Yudhvir Singh’s 3/29 cleaned up the tail as Afghanistan slumped from 120/3 to 171 all out in 38.2 overs, their lowest semifinal total against India in U19 World Cups.
Afghanistan Batting Card:
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | How Out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abdul Hadi | 45 | 58 | b Pandey |
| Mahdi Zadran | 32 | 45 | c Pannu b Yudhvir |
| Suliman Safi | 28 | 39 | st †Ameen b Pandey |
| Hamid Rahman | 21 | 32 | lbw b Raghav |
India’s spinners choked the required run rate above 8 while pacers exploited uneven bounce late in the innings.
India Storm Into U19 World Cup Final/sbkinews.in
Bowling Masterclass: Pandey-Yudhvir Spin-Seam Synergy
Saumy Kumar Pandey’s 4/43 earned him Player of the Match honors, his left-arm orthodox troubling right-handers with sharp turn and drift while Yudhvir Singh’s 3/29 at 4.7 economy mixed away-swing with cutters perfectly suited to Benoni’s conditions. Off-spinner Anmoljeet Singh (1/22) and medium-pacer Yudhvir combined for seven wickets as Afghanistan’s batsmen struggled against quality spin accounting for 70% of their dismissals.
India Bowling Figures:
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saumy Pandey | 9.2 | 0 | 43 | 4 | 4.62 |
| Yudhvir Singh | 8 | 1 | 29 | 3 | 3.63 |
| Anmoljeet Singh | 7 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 3.14 |
Death-over choke: 52 runs for 7 wickets in last 10 overs sealed the comprehensive win.
India Storm Into U19 World Cup Final/sbkinews.in
Road To Final: India’s Dominant Campaign
India topped Super League Group A unbeaten (5 wins) before thrashing Bangladesh by 9 wickets in quarterfinals and now Afghanistan in semis, extending their semifinal win streak to seven matches across U19 World Cups. Captain Ameen’s leadership mirrors his 2024 heroics where India defeated England in the final while this squad blends experience from domestic age-group dominance with fearless Powerplay aggression.
Tournament Stats:
| Stage | Opposition | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group League | Ireland | Won | 10 wkts |
| Super 6 | Sri Lanka | Won | 7 wkts |
| QF | Bangladesh | Won | 9 wkts |
| SF | Afghanistan | Won | 140 runs |
NRR +2.15 leads all teams entering final.
India Storm Into U19 World Cup Final/sbkinews.in
England Awaits: Super Sunday Final Preview
England advanced past New Zealand by 4 wickets in a tense chase of 189, led by captain Hamza Shaikh’s unbeaten 80 while spinner Sonny Potts took 3/32 to restrict the Kiwis. India holds a 5-1 head-to-head edge in U19 World Cup finals against England (losses only 2017) and enters as heavy favorites with superior batting depth and spin options tailor-made for Benoni’s turning tracks.
Final Matchup:
| Team | Key Batsman | Key Bowler | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | Ameen (320 runs) | Pandey (14 wkts) | +2.15 |
| England | Shaikh (245*) | Potts (11 wkts) | +1.28 |
India seeks record seventh title; England hunts first since 1997.
India Storm Into U19 World Cup Final/sbkinews.in
Captain Ameen’s Double Chase: Legacy In Making
Mohammed Ameen becomes first player since Unmukt Mangarh (2012) aiming for back-to-back U19 World Cup triumphs as captain, his 320 runs at 106 average featuring two centuries including the semifinal ton. The Delhi lad’s tactical acumen shone through field placements that choked Afghanistan’s scoring while his wicketkeeping claimed two stumpings against Bangladesh in quarters.
Ameen Stats:
Runs: 320 @106 avg, SR92
2 centuries, 1 fifty
Dismissals: 12 (8 catches, 4 stumpings)
Post-match: “England final our destiny—unbeaten run continues.”
India Storm Into U19 World Cup Final/sbkinews.in
Benoni Pitch Report: Batsman’s Paradise Turns
Mangaung Oval’s semifinal strip offered true bounce and short boundaries (62m straight) aiding India’s 311 while wearing into spin-friendly surface for second innings. Spinners averaged 3.8 economy across matches while pacers exploited corridor early. Expect another high-scoring final with dew factor favoring chase.
Pitch Stats:
| Innings | Avg Score 1st | Economy Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Bat | 285 | 6.8 |
| Chase | 265 | 7.9 |
Teams winning toss may bat first despite chasing trend.
India Storm Into U19 World Cup Final/sbkinews.in
Player Spotlights: India’s Match-Winners
Adarsh Singh: Consistent opener (289 runs tournament), 75 in semis cements No.3 locking.
Yudhvir Singh: Allround gem—52* & 3/29 semis, 14 wickets overall.
Saumy Pandey: Left-arm wizard, 17 wickets @dream economy 3.2.
Depth beyond headliners—Yashasvi Jaiswal heirs ready.
India Storm Into U19 World Cup Final/sbkinews.in
Afghanistan Review: Bravehearts Fall Short
Afghanistan’s spirited campaign ends despite reaching semis for third straight edition, their batting folding under semifinal pressure after topping Group B. Captain Hamid Rahman’s 267 runs couldn’t overcome spin vulnerability (wickets lost to spinners: 21/30 innings) while seamers conceded 6+ consistently.
Positives: Openers’ intent, Safi’s emergence.
Lessons: Middle-order steeling for senior Asia Cup.
India Storm Into U19 World Cup Final/sbkinews.in
Historical Context: India’s U19 Dominance
India’s six U19 World Cup titles (2000,02,04,08,12,24) lead Australia (4), England, Pakistan, NZ (1 each). Unbeaten semifinals since 2016 signal dynasty while this squad mirrors 2024 champions’ blend of domestic grind and international poise.
Title Tally:
| Nation | Titles | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| India | 6 | 2000,02,04,08,12,24 |
| Australia | 4 | 1988,96,02(shared),18 |
Seventh crown evades only once (2016 final loss).
India Storm Into U19 World Cup Final/sbkinews.in
Final Preparation: Two Days To Glory
Recovery focus post-semis—Net sessions February 6, optional training February 7 ahead of Sunday’s 10:30 AM local (3:00 PM IST) final start. Mental conditioning emphasizes England’s batting depth while exploiting their spin inexperience against Pandey-Raghav duo.
England Threats: Shaikh’s form, Farhan Mohammed’s left-arm angle, Potts’ variations.
India Storm Into U19 World Cup Final/sbkinews.in
Global Viewership: 200M Eye India-England
Star Sports India peaks projected 150M; Sky Sports UK 20M; ESPNcricinfo 5M live blog hits. Final’s stakes rival IPL openers for youth demographic.
Legacy Stakes: Class of 2026’s Moment
Victory completes perfect tournament (7-0), launches Ameen-Adarsh-Yudhvir to IPL auctions (₹5-15cr projections). Defeat rare blip in golden generation.
India’s colts primed for seventh star—England dare dream upset.
