India Under-19 captain Ayush Mhatre expressed immense pride after leading his side to a record-extending sixth ICC Under-19 World Cup title, saying the triumph allowed the young team to carry forward the legacy created by senior legends Rohit Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur, who won the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup and the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup respectively.
India produced a dominant all-round performance in the final at Harare, defeating England by 100 runs, powered by a breathtaking innings from Vaibhav Suryavanshi and a composed half-century from skipper Mhatre himself.
“Happy to Carry Forward the Legacy” – Ayush Mhatre
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Mhatre reflected on the journey and credited both the players and the support staff for India’s flawless campaign.
“We have no words for him, what an innings he played,” Mhatre said of Suryavanshi.
“But we knew he is a fabulous batsman. He showed what he can do on the biggest stage. We are happy to carry forward the legacy—Rohit Sharma won the World Cup, Harmanpreet did, and now we have.”
The young captain also praised the backroom staff for their tireless work over the past several months.
“No words for the support staff. For the last seven or eight months, they have hustled around us. The credit goes to them for shaping us as a team.”
Reflecting on what the squad takes away from the tournament, Mhatre added:
“The attitude with which we played here—that’s what we’ll carry forward. We may not play together again as a team, but this mindset will stay.”
Suryavanshi’s Record-Shattering Masterclass
After opting to bat first, India unleashed one of the most destructive batting performances in U-19 World Cup history. Vaibhav Suryavanshi delivered a once-in-a-generation knock, smashing 175 off just 80 balls, laced with 15 fours and 15 sixes.
His innings not only justified the immense hype surrounding the 14-year-old prodigy but also helped India post a record-breaking 411/9, the highest total ever in a U-19 World Cup final.
Mhatre played the perfect supporting role, scoring 53 off 51 balls, while Abhigyan Kundu chipped in with a brisk 40 off 31 balls.
England’s Brave Fight Falls Short
England showed early promise in the chase, reaching 142/2 with strong contributions from Ben Dawkins (66 off 56) and skipper Thomas Rew (31 off 18). However, a dramatic collapse saw them slip to 177/7, effectively ending their hopes.
Caleb Falconer produced a valiant counterattack, smashing 115 off 67 balls with nine fours and seven sixes, but the target proved far beyond reach. England were bowled out for 311, continuing their wait for a U-19 World Cup title since their lone triumph in 1998.
India’s bowling effort was led by RS Ambrish, who returned figures of 3/56, as the attack operated collectively to seal the emphatic win.
India’s Golden Run Continues
This triumph marks India’s sixth Under-19 World Cup title, the most by any nation, and further underlines the country’s sustained dominance in age-group cricket. With a robust talent pipeline and fearless brand of cricket, the future of Indian cricket once again looks exceptionally bright.