The Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026 culminates in a thrilling final between India and England at the Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe on Friday, February 6th. Both teams have displayed exceptional form throughout the tournament, remaining undefeated. India, the record five-time champions, are seeking their sixth title, while England aims for their second, with their first coming in 1998.
Form Guide
India has had a dominant run, winning all their matches in Group B and defeating Zimbabwe and Pakistan in the Super Six stage. They secured their place in the final with a record run chase against Afghanistan in the semi-final. England's journey has been equally impressive. They cruised through their group, overcoming Pakistan, Zimbabwe, and Scotland, before easing past Bangladesh and New Zealand in the Super Six. In a tense semi-final, they knocked out defending champions Australia.
Key Players
- India: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been a standout performer with the bat for India, scoring 264 runs with three half-centuries. Henil Patel has led the bowling attack, taking 11 wickets. Other notable players include Ayush Mhatre (Captain), Aaron George, and R.S. Ambrish. Predicted playing XI: Aaron George, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ayush Mhatre (c), Vihaan Malhotra, Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu(w), RS Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan Patel, Henil Patel, Deepesh Devendran.
- England: Ben Mayes has been the leading run-scorer for England, accumulating 399 runs. Captain Thomas Rew has also been instrumental with 299 runs. Manny Lumsden is the tournament's top wicket-taker with 15 wickets, supported by Ralphie Albert with 10 wickets. Predicted playing XI: Ben Dawkins, Joseph Moores, Ben Mayes, Thomas Rew (c/wk), Caleb Falconer, Ralphie Albert, Farhan Ahmed, Sebastian Morgan, James Minto, Manny Lumsden, Alex French.
Head-to-Head Record
The two sides have a rich history in U19 ODIs, having met 54 times. India holds a significant advantage with 40 wins compared to England's 13, with one match ending in a tie. Eight of these encounters have taken place in the U19 World Cup. In their recent U19 ODI meetings, India has won three out of the last five matches. The last time these two teams met in the U19 World Cup final was in 2022, where India emerged victorious.
Match Prediction
While head-to-head records favor India, England have demonstrated strong form and defeated formidable opponents to reach the final. Both teams are unbeaten in the tournament, making this a highly anticipated and competitive final. One team's unbeaten run is set to end. BetClan's algorithm predicts India to win with a 73% probability.
The final promises to be an exciting contest between two talented teams. India will rely on their batting depth and spin attack, while England will depend on their pace bowlers and the consistent form of their top-order batsmen. The toss could play a crucial role, with the team winning it likely to prefer batting first to put pressure on the opposition.
Match Details
- Date: Friday, February 6, 2026
- Venue: Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe
- Time: 1:00 PM Indian Standard Time
- Live Streaming: Details regarding live streaming will be available on various sports websites.