India Storm to Historic Sixth U-19 World Cup Crown with Record-Breaking Final in Harare
India scripted another glorious chapter in junior cricket history by clinching the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026 title, overpowering the England Under-19 cricket team by a massive 100-run margin in the final at Harare on February 6.
The triumph marked India’s record-extending sixth U-19 World Cup crown, reaffirming their dominance at the youth level.
Batting first at the iconic Harare Sports Club, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi delivered a breathtaking masterclass.
The young sensation hammered a sensational 175 off just 80 balls, peppering the boundary with 15 fours and 15 towering sixes.
His blistering knock powered India Under-19 cricket team to a colossal 410/9 — the highest-ever total in a U-19 World Cup final.
Supporting contributions came from skipper Ayush Mhatre, who struck a composed half-century, and late fireworks from Kanishk Chouhan, whose quick, unbeaten cameo pushed India past the 400-run mark.
In reply, England fought valiantly but were eventually bowled out for 311 in 40.2 overs. Openers showed early promise, while Caleb Falconer stood tall with a fighting century of 115, refusing to give up till the very end.
However, wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals, preventing England from mounting a serious comeback.
Earlier in the innings, Ben Dawkins chipped in with a brisk 66, but India’s bowling attack maintained relentless pressure.
With this victory, captain Ayush Mhatre etched his name into an elite list of Indian skippers to lift the U-19 World Cup, joining legends like Virat Kohli, Mohammed Kaif, Unmukt Chand, Prithvi Shaw, and Yash Dhull.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also finished the tournament as the leading run-scorer with an astonishing 439 runs, emerging as the undisputed star of the championship.
India’s emphatic win not only underlined their bench strength but also signalled the arrival of another golden generation ready to shine on the world stage.
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