Ayush Mhatre became the sixth Indian captain to win the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup and invoked Rohit Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur after his side’s victory.
“We just wanted to carry forward the
legacy. Rohit Sharma won the World Cup, Harmanpreet also and now we have won it,” Mhatre said at the post-match presentation.
India registered their record-extending sixth ICC Under-19 World Cup title with a 100-run win over England in the final at the Harare Sports Club on Friday.
“I can’t express my feelings but it’s a memorable night for us,” Mhatre was quoted as saying.
“The boys have played really well. What goals we set, they executed very well. They played their natural game so I am very happy,” he added.
When asked about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s match-winning knock, Mhatre said: “We have no words for his innings. We know he is a fabulous batsman and he’s shown in this match what he can do.”
Mhatre also credited the Indian coaching staff.
“No words for the support staff, they way they have hustled for the last many months,” he said.
Mhatre also had a message for the fans: “Keep supporting us like this, we’ll keep winning you trophies”.
How India Beat England?
Vaibhav Suryavanshi delivered one of the greatest performances in Under-19 World Cup history, smashing a phenomenal 175 off just 80 balls. India amassed an imposing 411/9 after opting to bat first, leaving England with the daunting task of chasing 412 in the final.
Suryavanshi dominated the innings with fearless strokeplay, striking 15 fours and 15 sixes, recording the fastest 150 in tournament history and achieving the most sixes in a single U19 World Cup innings. Captain Ayush Mhatre supported him with a composed 53, while Abhigyan Kundu’s brisk 40 and late contributions from the middle order ensured India comfortably surpassed the 400-run mark.
England’s chase started poorly with an early wicket, but Ben Dawkins and Ben Mayes steadied the innings with aggressive strokes. However, regular wickets hindered their progress, and England slipped from a strong 142/2 to 177/7, putting India firmly in control. Caleb Falconer kept England’s hopes alive with a spectacular counter-attacking innings, scoring 115 off 67 balls with powerful hitting, but the required rate and lack of support were insurmountable.
India’s bowlers maintained pressure through the middle overs, with RS Ambrish leading the attack with three wickets, while Deepesh Devendran and Kanishk Chauhan contributed key breakthroughs. Captain Mhatre’s wicket of Dawkins proved to be a turning point as England’s resistance waned.
Falconer’s late assault briefly delayed the inevitable, but England were eventually bowled out for 311 in 40.2 overs. India’s all-round dominance secured a memorable victory, extending England’s wait for a second U19 World Cup title and adding another glorious chapter to India’s rich youth cricket legacy.
(With inputs from Agencies)
