Muscat (Oman), Nov 2026 : India's Under-19 all-rounder Mohit Ulva credited his self-belief and faith in God for helping him remain calm under immense pressure as he struck the winning boundary off the final delivery to secure a thrilling one-wicket victory over Pakistan in the ACC Men's Under-19 Asia Cup final at Al Amerat, near Muscat, on Saturday.
Ulva emerged as India's unlikely hero, scoring an unbeaten 49 off just 26 deliveries to steer the team to a remarkable victory while chasing a formidable target of 338. India finished at 339 for nine in 50 overs, securing the continental championship for a record-extending ninth time.
His match-winning contribution earned him the Player of the Match award, capping a memorable performance in a final that appeared to be slipping away from India during the closing stages.
Reflecting on how he handled the pressure of the final over, Ulva said his confidence never wavered despite India's precarious position. He also acknowledged that his performances earlier in the tournament had not been particularly impressive, but he had always believed in his ability as an all-rounder.
"Nothing much. I just had belief in myself and faith in God. My Asia Cup hadn't been particularly great until then. I knew I was a bowler, but I also believed that I was an all-rounder. However, I hadn't got enough opportunities to prove myself yet. But I always believed that I could do it," Ulva said after the match.
India entered the final over needing eight runs from six deliveries, with Pakistan requiring just one more wicket to clinch the title. The equation eventually came down to three runs off the final ball. Facing Ahmed Hussain, Ulva kept his composure and dispatched the delivery to the boundary, completing one of the most dramatic finishes in the tournament's history.
"I was just waiting for that one ball. I knew I could hit a boundary and finish the game. I had complete faith in God. I knew it was my day and I would finish the game," he said.
The young all-rounder also highlighted the contributions of Manal Chauhan and Chigurupati Venkata, whose support proved crucial during the tense closing stages.
Manal scored an aggressive 47 off 32 balls and shared a valuable 57-run partnership with Ulva before being dismissed in the 47th over. His attacking approach helped India regain momentum after the middle-order collapse had left the team struggling.
"The momentum he created by going out to bat before me and setting things up was incredible. I just had to go out there and deliver," Ulva said, praising Manal's contribution.
He reserved special appreciation for Venkata, who joined him at the crease after India's ninth wicket fell at 309. The two batters put together an unbeaten 30-run partnership off just 16 deliveries to take India across the finish line.
Ulva said Venkata's encouragement strengthened his confidence during the decisive moments.
"He kept telling me, 'No, you can do it. Just go out and play. You will finish it.' The belief he gave me, that the two of us could get the job done on the last ball, strengthened my own confidence," he added.
Ulva also revealed that batting at number 10 had worked in his favour, describing the position as lucky for him. He said the Indian team had entered the chase with confidence, believing that the batting-friendly surface and their strong batting line-up gave them a realistic opportunity to overhaul Pakistan's imposing total.
Before walking out to bat, he received an encouraging message from the team management, which further strengthened his resolve.
"Before I went out to bat, sir personally came up to me and said, 'You can do it. Just believe in yourself.' So, I went out there and simply watched the ball and hit the ball. I wasn't thinking about what was happening or what might happen next. I wasn't overthinking anything. I was just watching the ball and playing my shots," he explained.
Earlier, India had made a confident start to the chase, with captain Lakshya Rajesh Raichandani leading the way with 80 runs and Aaryavir Sehwag contributing 58. However, a middle-order collapse reduced India to 254 for eight before Manal and Ulva revived the innings.
Pakistan had posted 337 for nine after electing to bat. Usman Khan top-scored with 107, while Abdul Qadir made 80 and captain Farhan Yousaf contributed 63. For India, Kavya Patel claimed four wickets and Chigurupati Venkata picked up three.
Rizwanullah took three wickets for Pakistan during India's chase, while Niqab Shafiq claimed two.
Ultimately, Ulva's fearless batting and Venkata's support transformed a seemingly lost contest into a historic victory, reaffirming India's dominance in age-group cricket and delivering a memorable Asia Cup triumph.
