India’s Under-19 team scripted a memorable victory in the ACC Men’s U-19 Asia Cup 2026 final, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan by one wicket in a last-ball thriller in Al Amerat on November 14. The young Indian side pulled off a remarkable chase of 338, with Mohit Ulva delivering a match-winning unbeaten knock under immense pressure to guide his team to the title. Following the historic triumph, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia addressed questions surrounding potential prize money for the young champions.
He urged people not to focus on financial rewards at this early stage of their careers, emphasising that the experience and confidence gained from winning such a high-pressure contest would prove far more valuable. Devajit Saikia also came out in support of India’s animated celebrations following the victory over Pakistan. He described the players’ reactions as a reflection of their fighting spirit and the determination they displayed throughout the final.
India defeated defending champions Pakistan in a thrilling final after successfully chasing down a challenging target of 338 runs. Batting first, Pakistan posted an imposing total of 337/9 in their allotted 50 overs, putting considerable pressure on the Indian batting unit. Usman Khan was the standout performer with the bat for Pakistan, scoring an impressive 107 off 111 deliveries. Abdul Qadir provided valuable support with an aggressive 80 off just 54 balls, while captain Farhan Yousaf contributed 63 from 60 deliveries.
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For India, Kavya Patel led the bowling attack with four wickets for 68 runs, preventing Pakistan from pushing their total even higher. In response, India initially found stability through captain Lakshya Raichandani and Aaryavir Sehwag. Raichandani scored a patient 80 off 101 deliveries, while Sehwag played a crucial innings of 58 from 61 balls.
However, Pakistan fought back by picking up regular wickets and eventually reduced India to 252/8, leaving the defending side in a difficult position. With the match slipping away, Manal Chauhan and Mohit Ulva stepped up with a crucial 57-run partnership for the ninth wicket. Chauhan scored 47 off just 32 deliveries before departing, while Ulva continued to anchor the chase.
Chigurupati Venkata then provided valuable support with an unbeaten 11 off eight balls, allowing Ulva to take India closer to the finishing line. Needing eight runs from the final over and three off the last delivery, India required one final moment of brilliance. Ulva delivered under pressure, smashing a boundary off the last ball to take India to 339/9 and seal a remarkable one-wicket victory.
PAKISTAN LOST THE U19 ASIA CUP FINAL. 🇵🇰💔
– India won the final by miracle. What you do guys. This is easy win for Pakistan. 🥲💔 https://t.co/YstTIT2S4h
— Abdullah (@Abdullahhhh_56) November 14, 2026
Ulva remained unbeaten on 49 from just 26 deliveries and was named Player of the Match. Meanwhile, Sehwag received the Player of the Series award after finishing the tournament with an impressive 361 runs. India’s dramatic victory was followed by enthusiastic celebrations from the young players, with some members of the squad making gestures towards their Pakistani opponents. The celebrations attracted considerable attention after the final.
However, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia defended the players, stating that their reactions were understandable given the circumstances of the contest. He highlighted how India had managed to turn the match around despite being in a difficult position.
Speaking to ANI, Devajit Saikia also played down discussions about financial rewards, urging people to allow the youngsters to concentrate on their cricket. “These are still young players—please don’t bring up topics like prize money or financial rewards; they should be focusing entirely on their game. They will have their whole lives to earn prize money, but the experience and confidence they’ve gained today will serve as a massive impetus for their future careers. Nothing could be more valuable than that,” Saikia said.
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Addressing the celebrations after India’s victory, the BCCI Secretary further explained why he believed the players deserved to enjoy the moment. “That reflects their character and fighting spirit. Consider how much of a cliffhanger today’s match was—at one point, it really didn’t look like it was in India’s favour. Yet, India managed to win. This speaks volumes about the team’s confidence level and their ‘never-say-die’ attitude. When they win a match from such a difficult position, they certainly deserve to celebrate; that’s something we must allow,” he added.
Devajit Saikia also congratulated the entire Indian squad and its support staff for their efforts throughout the tournament. He particularly acknowledged the team’s ability to recover from its defeat against Pakistan in the opening match and deliver when it mattered most. The BCCI Secretary praised the contribution of everyone involved in India’s Under-19 setup, highlighting the importance of nurturing young cricketers for the future of Indian cricket.
“All the glory goes to the boys, young champions of the India Under-19 team. The whole country and the BCCI are extremely happy. I congratulate the complete team, as well as the full support staff, for their excellent job, who stood rock-solid behind the team,” Saikia stated.
He also reflected on the significance of India’s comeback, considering that Pakistan had defeated them earlier in the tournament. “This was such a crucial match, especially considering we had lost to Pakistan in our opening game of the tournament. Yet, in the final, the most important match of the tournament, the team fought back from a position where victory seemed unlikely, taking it down to the very last ball of the final over to clinch the win. This truly reveals the team’s character—it’s a testament to their determination, dedication, and confidence,” he concluded.
India’s triumph not only secured another U-19 Asia Cup title but also highlighted the depth of young cricketing talent in the country. The remarkable comeback against Pakistan will give the youngsters valuable experience as they continue their journey towards potentially representing the senior national team.
