England Under-19s captain Thomas Rew has stressed the importance of staying calm and focused as his side prepares to face India in the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 final in Harare. Determined not to let the occasion overwhelm his team, Rew said England would approach the title clash as “just another game of cricket.”
England are chasing their first U19 World Cup title since 1998. They came agonisingly close four years ago, only to be beaten by India in the final. India, meanwhile, are looking to add another trophy after winning the tournament in 2022 and finishing runners-up two years ago. Their class of 2026 has been dominant, reaching the final unbeaten.
England’s Road to the Final
England booked their place in the final with a thrilling 27-run victory over Australia in Tuesday’s semi-final. Skipper Thomas Rew played a pivotal role, scoring a sparkling century that took his tournament tally to 299 runs at an impressive average of 74.75.
Rew was quick to credit England’s strong top order for laying the foundation throughout the competition. Ben Mayes has been a standout performer, amassing 399 runs at just under 80, consistently putting opposition bowlers under pressure during England’s unbeaten run.
“It means a lot,” Rew said. “We came into this tournament with one aspiration, and now there is one more game left. We’ve all dreamed of lifting this World Cup, but we have to treat it as just another game of cricket.”
He added that England’s batting depth has played a major role in their success. “It helps batting with our top order; every single person puts pressure back on the bowler, and that takes the pressure off you. All the credit has to go to them. The communication in the squad has been really good, and I’m just trying to play some strong shots and hope for the best.”
Bowlers Deliver for England
England’s bowling attack has been equally crucial. Manny Lumsden has been the standout, leading the wicket charts with 15 wickets at under 12 runs each. Ralphie Albert and Sebastian Morgan have also made vital contributions, giving England a well-rounded attack.
Reflecting on England’s successful defence of 277 against Australia, Rew said conditions worked in their favour. “It’s always nice batting first on a wicket that deteriorates. It wasn’t as bad as previously, but we used it to our advantage by hitting hard lengths. Our bowlers have done that all tournament, and that’s why we’ve done really well.”
India’s Unbeaten Charge to the Final
India enter the final full of confidence after a convincing chase of 311 against Afghanistan. Aaron George’s superb 115 anchored the innings, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s explosive 33-ball 68 set the tone at the top.
India captain Ayush Mhatre, who chipped in with 62 runs including four sixes, echoed Rew’s call for simplicity ahead of the final. “England are a fabulous team and are playing really nicely in this tournament,” Mhatre said.
“We will play our natural game, take each ball on its merits, and adapt to the conditions and the wicket. We want to keep it simple.”
India Focused on Basics Ahead of Big Clash
Mhatre said India’s approach against Afghanistan revolved around patience and smart batting. “We had a simple discussion about batting for a long time. Vaibhav’s start was really important — he released the pressure and made it easier to build an innings.”
He added that India focused on rotating the strike and punishing loose deliveries. “We looked for ones and twos and waited for bad balls. Nothing special — just simple cricket.”
On the bowling front, Mhatre acknowledged there was room for improvement despite the win. “Afghanistan batted very well. Our bowlers were good, but they’ve got some pointers to work on, and they’ll try to do that in the final.”
All Set for a High-Stakes Final in Harare
With England seeking to end a 28-year title drought and India aiming to continue their dominance at the junior level, the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 final promises a high-quality contest between two confident, well-matched sides — both determined to stay calm under pressure and play their best cricket on the biggest stage.