India U-19 Crowned World Champions After Crushing England by 100 Runs in Record-Breaking Final

The Indian Under-19 cricket team once again stamped its authority on the global stage, delivering a breathtaking performance to defeat England by a massive 100 runs and lift the ICC U-19 World Cup trophy for a record sixth time. The high-scoring final, played at the Harare Sports Club, turned into a celebration of fearless batting, composure under pressure, and India’s unmatched depth in youth cricket.

Winning the toss and opting to bat first, India produced one of the most dominant batting displays ever seen in an U-19 World Cup final. The scoreboard read a daunting 411/9 at the end of 50 overs — a total that immediately put England under immense pressure and set the tone for the contest.

The architect of this extraordinary innings was opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who played a knock that will be remembered as one of the finest in U-19 World Cup history. After India lost fellow opener Aaron George early for 9, Suryavanshi took complete control of the innings. Showing no signs of nerves on the biggest stage, the young sensation dismantled the English bowling attack with stunning ease.

Suryavanshi hammered an incredible 175 runs off just 80 balls, striking the ball cleanly to all parts of the ground. His innings was studded with 15 fours and 15 towering sixes, as he maintained a jaw-dropping strike rate of over 218. England’s bowlers tried pace, spin, short balls, and wide lines, but nothing worked as Suryavanshi unleashed relentless aggression.

He found strong support from skipper Ayush Mhatre, who played a mature and composed knock of 53 runs. Together, the duo stitched a vital 142-run partnership for the second wicket, stabilising the innings after the early loss and then accelerating at will. Following Mhatre’s dismissal, Suryavanshi continued his assault, adding another crucial stand with Vedant Trivedi to ensure India never lost momentum.

Even after the star opener departed, India’s middle and lower order maintained the intensity. Abhigyan Kundu played a brisk knock of 40 runs, while Vedant Trivedi (32) and Vihaan Malhotra (30) chipped in with valuable contributions. The late flourish came from Kanishk Chauhan, who smashed an unbeaten 37 off just 20 balls, helping India plunder over 100 runs in the final 10 overs and push the total well beyond the 400-run mark.

England’s bowlers endured a punishing day. James Minto picked up three wickets but conceded heavily, while Manny Lumsden had a particularly difficult outing, leaking 81 runs in eight overs. Despite a few wickets in the middle overs, England never managed to stem the flow of runs.

Chasing a near-impossible target of 412, England began positively. Ben Dawkins (66) and Ben Mayes (45) gave their side a brisk start, briefly raising hopes of a competitive chase. However, the Indian bowlers struck at regular intervals, ensuring the required run rate kept climbing.

England found themselves reeling at 177/7, but Caleb Falconer produced a sensational counter-attack. His brilliant 115 off 67 balls, featuring nine fours and seven sixes, turned the chase into a spectacle and threatened an unlikely comeback. With some support from James Minto (28), Falconer kept England’s hopes alive for a brief period.

Ultimately, the mountain proved too steep. India’s bowlers held their nerve, with R.S. Ambrush emerging as the standout performer, claiming three wickets. Kanishk Chauhan and Deepesh Devendran picked up two wickets each, as England were bowled out for 311 in 40.2 overs.

With this emphatic victory, India added yet another golden chapter to its rich U-19 legacy. Having previously won the title in 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018 and 2022, this sixth triumph underlines India’s sustained dominance at the junior level. As the young champions celebrated with the Tricolour at Harare, it was clear that Indian cricket’s future remains in exceptionally safe hands.

Team Maverick