Harare, Zimbabwe – In a stunning display of dominance, India defeated England by 100 runs in the ICC U19 World Cup final, securing their sixth title in the tournament's history. The victory, played at the Harare Sports Club, was powered by a sensational innings from Vaibhav Suryavanshi, whose explosive 175 off 80 balls completely shifted the momentum in India's favour.
The young Suryavanshi, a 14-year-old sensation, etched his name in the record books with a breathtaking display of power-hitting. His innings, the highest individual score in an U19 World Cup final, included 15 fours and 15 sixes, leaving the English bowlers with no answers. Suryavanshi's century came off just 55 balls, marking the second-fastest in U19 World Cup history. He showed no signs of fear, dominating the match and establishing India's firm control.
India, after winning the toss and electing to bat, faced an early setback with the loss of opener Aaron George for 9. However, Suryavanshi's arrival at the crease ignited an explosive partnership with captain Ayush Mhatre. Mhatre contributed a solid 53 off 51 balls before he was dismissed. Suryavanshi continued his onslaught, propelling India to a formidable total of 411/9, the highest ever in an Under-19 World Cup final. Kanishk Chouhan's late cameo of 37 runs off 20 balls further boosted India's score.
Chasing a daunting target, England's innings began with cautious optimism, but the pressure of the scoreboard soon took its toll. Ben Dawkins showed early aggression, but India's disciplined bowling attack, led by RS Ambrish and Deepesh Devendran (two wickets each), consistently hit hard lengths and tested the English batsmen. Despite a century from Caleb Falconer, England's chase faltered. A collapse saw them slump to 177/7 from 174/3, derailing their momentum. They were eventually bowled out for 311 in 40.2 overs.
The victory marked India's second U19 World Cup final win against England, with the first coming in 2022. India's dominant performance throughout the tournament culminated in a well-deserved title, solidifying their status as a powerhouse in youth cricket. The win was also the largest margin of victory in an U19 World Cup final.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi's remarkable innings will be remembered for years to come, and his performance has drawn comparisons to Kapil Dev's legendary knock against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup. His fearless approach and ability to dominate the opposition have marked him as a player to watch for the future.