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Sehwag and Raichandani fifties carry India to 10-wicket win over Nepal in U19 Asia Cup
Ishan Sood's 3 for 18 helped bowl Nepal out for 128 in Al Amerat, and the Indian openers knocked off the runs in 19.1 overs without losing a wicket.
Key points
- India beat Nepal by 10 wickets in their Under-19 Asia Cup opener in Oman.
- Ishan Sood took 3 for 18 in 10 overs as Nepal were bowled out for 128.
- Aaryavir Sehwag hit 69 off 51 balls and Lakshya Raichandani made 53 not out.
India opened their Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup campaign with a crushing 10-wicket win over Nepal in Al Amerat, Oman, on Friday, November 6, 2026. After their bowlers dismissed Nepal for 128, openers Aaryavir Sehwag and captain Lakshya Raichandani knocked off the target in just 19.1 overs.
The eight-time champions could hardly have asked for a cleaner start. Raichandani won the toss and chose to bowl on the Oman Cricket Academy ground, and his bowlers had Nepal in trouble inside the first hour.
How Nepal were bowled out
Ishan Sood set the tone. He struck early, having Prashiddha Jaishi caught at second slip for 1, and then removed Suryanshu Koirala and Nischal Chhetri to leave Nepal at 27 for 3. He finished with 3 for 18 from his 10 overs, four of them maidens.
Nepal tried to rebuild through Darsh Sonar, who batted with great patience for 43 off 93 balls. He and Aashish Luhar put on 43 for the fifth wicket, the best stand of the innings, before Luhar fell for 29, caught at long-off by Arjun Rajput off Yashveer Goud. Niraj Kumar Yadav had earlier ground out 20 from 48 balls before Manal Chauhan trapped him leg before.
Rajput, who also held three catches, then joined in with the ball and took three wickets of his own, while Goud and Chauhan claimed two each. Nepal were all out for 128 in 42.3 overs.
A chase without a scare
India’s openers began carefully, with only 29 runs from the first five overs as Sushil Rawal bowled tightly for Nepal. Once they had the measure of the bowling, they cut loose. Sehwag, son of former India opener Virender Sehwag, raced to 69 off 51 balls with seven fours and four sixes. Raichandani was the steadier partner, making 53 off 63 balls with seven fours.
Nepal’s captain Bipin Prasad Sharma went for 37 runs in his five overs, and none of his bowlers could break the partnership. India reached the target with 30.5 overs to spare.
For Sehwag, the innings carried on the form that won him his place. He came into the tournament after scoring 173 off 143 balls for Delhi against Chandigarh in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy.
What comes next
The bigger test comes on Sunday. India face defending champions Pakistan at 10:30 am IST on November 8, a rematch of last year’s final, which Pakistan won by 191 runs. India close their Group A campaign against the UAE on November 10, and the top two teams from each group go through to the semi-finals on November 12.