India v Pakistan U19 Asia Cup final: Sehwag's 303 runs against Pakistan's unbeaten run

India and Pakistan meet in the final of the Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup at Al Amerat, Oman, on Saturday, November 14, with the first ball at 10:30 am IST (9:00 am local time). It is the second meeting of the two sides in a week, after Pakistan beat India by three wickets in Group A on November 8, and a rematch of last year’s final.

Pakistan are the defending champions and have not lost a match in the tournament. India have lost once, to Pakistan, and won their other three matches: by 10 wickets against Nepal on November 6, by 70 runs against the UAE on November 10 and by eight wickets against Afghanistan in the semi-final on November 12.

Two openers, two bowlers

The tournament’s leading run-scorer is India’s Aaryavir Sehwag, with 303 runs in four innings on the tournament’s statistics, an average of 101. His 160 off 168 balls against the UAE, with 17 fours and seven sixes, took India to 309 for 7 and into the semi-finals. After that innings he said: “I told my dad I will get a big hundred.” He is the son of Virender Sehwag, the former India opener. Sehwag added 51 against Afghanistan in the semi-final, sharing a 117-run opening stand with captain Lakshya Raichandani, who made 93.

Pakistan’s answer is Usman Khan, who has 238 runs at an average of 119, with one century and one half-century. He made an unbeaten 139 off 120 balls as Pakistan chased 225 against the UAE in 37.3 overs, and an unbeaten 64 in the semi-final against Bangladesh, where he and Hayam Khan (69) put on 123 for the first wicket.

With the ball, the two attacks are almost level. India’s Ishan Sood has 11 wickets at 12.18, with a best of 4 for 37. Pakistan’s Rizwanullah has 11 wickets at 12.00 and took 5 for 30 in the semi-final, bowling Bangladesh out for 138. He also took 3 for 24 against India on November 8.

What happened on November 8

The group match is the one India will want to forget. India were bowled out for 208 after losing three wickets for 22, and Arjun Rajput’s 107 off 85 balls was the only reason the total was a contest. Pakistan slipped to 61 for 5 in reply, but Hamza Zahoor’s unbeaten 100 and a 107-run stand for the sixth wicket with Hasnain Abbas Dar took them home with three wickets in hand. Our report on that match has the full innings.

India’s predicted XI for the final, according to one preview, has Sehwag and Raichandani opening, with VK Vineeth, Rajput, Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan, wicketkeeper Anvay Dravid, Manal Chauhan, Mohit Ulva, Aryan Savsani, Kavya Patel and Sood. Vineeth, who made 8 in the group game, finished unbeaten on 57 in the semi-final chase. Manal Chauhan took three wickets against Pakistan on November 8. Pakistan are led by Farhan Yousuf.

The record between the sides

India lead the rivalry at this level. Before November 8 they had won 21 of 32 youth ODIs against Pakistan and nine of 13 Asia Cup meetings, with Pakistan winning three and one ending in no result. By our count, Pakistan’s win on November 8 makes it nine to four in the Asia Cup. India also won the most recent meeting before this tournament, by 58 runs in the Under-19 World Cup in February 2026, defending 252.

The memory that stings is last year’s final, which Pakistan won by 191 runs, with Sameer Minhas scoring 172. India are the most successful side in the competition with eight titles, and a win on Saturday would add a ninth.

Raichandani set out his approach when he was first given the captaincy. “The team comes first. Everyone has to go along with the team, and the team will be ahead of the individual,” he said on September 7.

How the tournament reached here

What happens next

The final is at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman, where Oman Cricket, the host for the Asian Cricket Council, has made entry free for all matches. The result will decide whether Pakistan retain the title or India take their ninth. We will report the match as it ends.