In a thrilling Super Six encounter at the ICC U-19 World Cup, India's young cricket team delivered a commanding performance to defeat arch-rivals Pakistan by 58 runs, securing their place in the tournament's semifinals. The victory was highlighted by an exceptional all-round display from Kanishk Chouhan, who played a crucial role with both bat and ball.
India's Batting Resilience Builds Competitive Total
Batting first after winning the toss, India faced early challenges but managed to post a competitive total of 252 runs in 49.5 overs. The innings was anchored by Vedant Trivedi, who scored a patient 68 off 98 balls, providing stability after India suffered a mini-collapse from 47 without loss to 47 for three. Vaibhav Suryavanshi contributed an attacking start with 30 runs off just 22 balls, but skipper Ayush Mhatre fell for a first-ball duck, continuing his struggles in youth ODIs.
Late Surge Powered by Chouhan and Patel
The defining moment of India's innings came in the latter stages, where Kanishk Chouhan's brisk 35 off 29 balls injected much-needed momentum. Partnering with Khilan Patel, who remained unbeaten on 21 off 15 balls, Chouhan helped forge a vital eighth-wicket partnership of 50 runs in just 5.1 overs. This late surge lifted India from a steady but slow build to a strong total, putting pressure on the Pakistani bowlers and setting up a challenging chase.
Pakistan's Chase Falls Short Amid Defensive Approach
Pakistan, needing to chase down the target within 33.3 overs to qualify on net run rate, began their innings steadily but showed little urgency. They reached 167 for 4 at the cut-off point, effectively ending their semifinal hopes. Despite resistance from Hamza Zahoor (42), Usman Khan (68), and Farhan Yousuf (38), the defensive mindset of the middle order proved costly. Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 194 in 46.2 overs, falling well short of the required total.
India's Bowling Dominance on Spin-Friendly Pitch
On a pitch that favored spin bowling, India's attack dominated proceedings. Kanishk Chouhan was exceptional with the ball, conceding just 30 runs in his 10 overs while delivering an impressive 40 dot balls. Khilan Patel supported with figures of 3 for 35, and captain Ayush Mhatre redeemed himself with a stellar bowling performance, taking 3 for 21. Their combined efforts applied relentless pressure through the middle overs, choking Pakistan's scoring and triggering a collapse that sealed the comprehensive victory.
Semifinal Clash Against Afghanistan Awaits
With this win, India advances to the semifinals, where they will face Afghanistan in what promises to be an exciting contest. The other semifinal will feature England against Australia, setting the stage for a competitive finish to the tournament. India's all-round effort in this match has underlined their strong momentum and team cohesion, making them a formidable contender for the title.
This victory not only highlights the talent and depth in India's youth cricket setup but also serves as a testament to the strategic acumen of the coaching staff. As the team prepares for the semifinals, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if they can maintain this high level of performance and bring home the ICC U-19 World Cup trophy.
