India secured their place in the semi-finals of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 thanks to a 58-run win over Pakistan in the Super 6 phase.
The win puts the five-time winners level with England on eight points in Group 2, with both teams progressing to the last four.
After being put in to bat at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, India scored 252 thanks to Vedant Trivedi’s alert 68 off 98 balls and a number of lower-order contributions.
In response, Pakistan’s Usman Khan led his side’s comeback with a well-taken 66, but Ayush Mhatre proved decisive with the ball, taking three for 21 to turn the tide in India’s favor before Khilan A. Patel (3/35) finished off the score.
Trivedic leads with the bat while Mhatre and Patel star with the ball
India’s innings got off to a solid start as openers Aaron George (16) and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (30) scored 47 for the first wicket.
But three wickets in four balls from a combination of Mohammad Sayyam (2/69) and Abdul Subhan (3/33) ensured India’s top order was toppled, only for Trivedi and Vihaan Malhotra to steady the ship with a partnership of 62.
Trivedi continued to play the anchor role and was part of two other helpful partnerships of 48 and 35 alongside Abhigyan Kundu (16) and RS Ambrish (29).
Trivedi eventually departed on 68, caught by Farhan Yousaf off the bowling of Momin Qamar, and India scored 182 for six with just under 10 overs to spare.
Kanishk Chouhan and Patel both made important contributions at the lower level as India crossed the 250 mark, with the former adding 35 off 29 balls while the latter scored 21 off 15 balls.
But there would be no end to the pyrotechnics as Abdul picked up two more wickets on his return before being caught in a run-out at the end of the innings.
After the early wicket of Sameer Minhas (9), Pakistan moved into a strong position at 151 for two thanks to the efforts of Hamza Zahoor (42) and Usman Khan before captain Farhan Yousaf added 38.
However, the captain’s dismissal triggered a collapse as Pakistan subsequently lost eight wickets for just 43 runs.
Mhatre removed Usman to see the back of the final Pakistan batters before he and Patel picked up a string of cheap wickets as India claimed victory.
Results coming soon
India vs Pakistan at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
India 252 all out in 49.5 overs (Vedant Trivedi 68, Kanishk Chouhan 35; Abdul Subhan 3/33, Mohammad Sayyam 2/69)
Pakistan 194 all out in 46.2 overs (Usman Khan 66, Hamza Zahoor 42; Ayush Mhatre 3/21, Khilan A. Patel 3/35)
Result: India wins by 58 runs.
