The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will reportedly sort an ‘explanation’ from India under-19 captain Ayush Mhatre, 18, and the team’s head coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar for the team’s runners-up finish in the recent under-19 Asia Cup in the UAE. According to Cricbuzz, the decision was made during the board’s Apex Council meeting on Monday (December 22), where the members felt the need for a ‘review’.
The Boys in Blue lost to Pakistan by 192 runs in the final — their only loss of the tournament, after dominating the group stage, including by beating the eventual champions. The extent of this reported ‘review’ is uncertain, though it would be quite rare, even for the highly competitive standards of Indian men’s cricket, to investigate
the performances of teenagers in an age-group tournament.
The report said the BCCI wants to address any issues promptly in light of the upcoming Under-19 World Cup in January-February 2026.
Pakistan laid the foundation for their title triumph with a dominant batting display. After opting to bat first, opener Sameer Minhas took complete control of the innings, punishing anything loose and setting the tempo from the outset. After Hamza Zahoor departed early, Minhas found strong support in Usman Khan, with the pair adding 92 runs before building an even more decisive 137-run stand with Ahmed Hussain.
Minhas brought up his century off just 71 balls and went on to compile a commanding 172 off 113 deliveries, an innings studded with power and timing. Ahmed Hussain’s fluent 56 ensured Pakistan never lost momentum, and despite Minhas falling short of a double hundred, the batting unit carried the surge through the death overs to post a towering 347 for eight.
India’s chase began at breakneck speed, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashing 21 runs in the opening over and Aaron George matching the intent as India raced along at 10 an over. However, the contest turned sharply when George fell to a short ball late in the fourth over, followed immediately by Suryavanshi’s dismissal on the first ball of the fifth.
From 49 for one, India slid to 49 for three, and the collapse gathered pace as Pakistan’s tall pacers hit hard lengths relentlessly. Vedant Trivedi, Kanishk Chouhan, and Abhigyan Kundu all fell in quick succession, and India were eventually bowled out for 156 in 26.2 overs.
