In a remarkable display of resilience and skill, Bangladesh defeated India by 59 runs in the final of the U19 Asia Cup to clinch their second consecutive title. The match, played at the Dubai International Stadium, saw Bangladesh successfully defend a modest total of 198, leaving India reeling at 139 all out in just 36 overs. India’s chase started poorly with the early loss of openers Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The Indian batters struggled against Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling, often edging deliveries outside the off stump. At one stage, India found themselves in serious trouble at 92/7. Despite a determined effort from captain Mohamed Amaan, who briefly revived the innings, his dismissal ended India’s hopes, and Bangladesh comfortably bowled them out. Earlier, India won the toss and chose to bowl, but Bangladesh’s top order stood firm. Shihab James and R Hossan made vital contributions with scores of 40 and 47, respectively, though both fell short of half-centuries. Faysal Hasan’s late knock of 39 off 49 balls added further strength to the total. India’s bowlers, Y Guha, Hardik Raj, and Chetan Sharma, took two wickets each but struggled to make breakthroughs at key moments. Despite an opening-day loss to Pakistan, India had appeared to be on track for a successful tournament, including a dominant semifinal victory over Sri Lanka. However, the final proved to be a different story, as they were completely outplayed by a determined Bangladesh side. One of the key stories of the tournament was the emergence of 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who had drawn attention after securing an INR 1.1 crore IPL contract with Rajasthan Royals. After a quiet start, Suryavanshi showcased his potential as a power hitter, particularly in the powerplay, adding to the excitement surrounding his future prospects. Bangladesh’s triumph in the U19 Asia Cup further solidifies their growing strength in youth cricket and their ability to produce talent capable of competing at the highest level. With this victory, Bangladesh has now firmly established itself as a dominant force in junior cricket in the region.
