India have lived up to their reputation as one of the tournament favourites, showcasing consistency and composure throughout the competition. The side dominated Group B, finishing at the top after winning all three of their matches.
They began their campaign with a comfortable six-wicket victory over the United States before edging Bangladesh by 18 runs in a closely fought contest. The team then sealed another convincing win by defeating New Zealand by seven wickets, underlining their all-round strength.
The momentum carried into the Super Six stage, where India delivered one of the most dominant performances of the tournament by thrashing Zimbabwe by 204 runs. They followed it up with a crucial win over Pakistan in what effectively turned out to be a knockout clash, further reinforcing their title credentials. India’s balanced squad, featuring dependable batters and a potent bowling attack, has been a key factor behind their strong run.
Afghanistan, meanwhile, have emerged as one of the surprise packages of the tournament with their spirited performances. They progressed through the group stage unbeaten, securing three consecutive victories and collecting maximum points. The team entered the Super Six round with confidence but suffered a setback after going down to Sri Lanka by four wickets. However, Afghanistan showed remarkable resilience by bouncing back strongly and registering a commanding 191-run victory over Ireland to confirm their place in the semi-finals.
India and Afghanistan U19 World Cup Squads
India U19 Squad: Aaron George, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ayush Mhatre(c), Vedant Trivedi, Vihaan Malhotra, Abhigyan Kundu(w), RS Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan Patel, Deepesh Devendran, Henil Patel, Harvansh Pangalia, Mohamed Enaan, Udhav Mohan, Kishan Kumar Singh.
Afghanistan U19 Squad: Osman Sadat, Khalid Ahmadzai, Faisal Shinozada, Uzairullah Niazai, Mahboob Khan(w/c), Azizullah Miakhil, Abdul Aziz, Roohullah Arab, Nooristani Omarzai, Wahidullah Zadran, Aqil Khan, Nazifullah Amiri, Khatir Stanikzai, Salam Khan, Zaitullah Shaheen.
India vs Afghanistan U19 World Cup Live Streaming
The U19 World Cup 2026 match between India U19 and Afghanistan U19 will be shown on the Star Sports Network. The match will be live-streamed on the Jio Hotstar app and website from 1:00 pm IST.