Al Amerat, November 14,2026: Mohit Ulva and Chigurupati Venkata held their nerve to guide India to a dramatic one-wicket victory over Pakistan in the ACC Men’s U-19 Asia Cup final, chasing down a target of 338 on the final delivery at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Muscat on Saturday.
India appeared to be heading for defeat at 252 for eight in the 42nd over before Ulva and Manal Chauhan revived their hopes with a crucial 57-run partnership for the ninth wicket.
Chauhan struck three fours and three sixes in his 32-ball 47 before departing at 309 in the 48th over, leaving India needing 29 runs from the final 16 deliveries.
Ulva and Venkata then produced a match-winning unbeaten 30-run stand for the last wicket. Needing eight runs in the final over, India sealed victory when Ulva, who remained unbeaten on 49 off 26 balls with five fours and three sixes, struck a boundary off Ahmed Hussain’s final delivery. Venkata finished not out on 11 off eight balls as India reached 339 for nine in 50 overs.
Earlier, captain Lakshya Raichandani top-scored with 80 off 101 balls, while Aaryavir Sehwag contributed 58 from 61 deliveries. The pair put on 95 runs for the opening wicket before Sehwag was dismissed in the 18th over.
Pakistan fought back with regular wickets, removing Raichandani at 217 in the 37th over. India then lost their eighth wicket just one run later, slipping to 252 for eight.
Rizwanullah was Pakistan’s leading bowler with three for 53 in 10 overs, while Niqab Shafiq claimed two for 57.
Earlier, Pakistan posted an imposing 337 for nine after opting to bat, with Usman Khan scoring a century and Abdul Qadir and captain Farhan Yousaf contributing valuable half-centuries.
Usman and Hayam Khan gave Pakistan a steady start with a 62-run opening stand. Hayam scored 21 off 23 balls, including four boundaries, before departing in the ninth over.
Usman then joined Qadir to build a commanding 135-run partnership for the second wicket. Qadir provided the acceleration with an attacking 80 off 54 deliveries, featuring three fours and eight sixes, before falling on the final ball of the 27th over with Pakistan at 197 for two.
Usman continued to anchor the innings, scoring 107 off 111 balls, including 11 fours and three sixes, to register his second century of the tournament. He was dismissed in the 37th over with the total at 240 for three.
Farhan maintained the momentum with 63 off 60 deliveries, hitting four fours and three sixes. He added 59 runs for the fourth wicket with Ahmed Hussain, who scored 17 off 20 balls.
Pakistan had appeared on course for a total in excess of 350 after reaching 204 for two at the halfway stage. However, India’s bowlers pulled things back in the closing overs to restrict the defending champions to 337 for nine.
Kavya Paresh Patel led the Indian bowling attack with four for 68 in 10 overs, while Venkata, who replaced the injured Ishan Sood, claimed three for 40 in five overs. Arjun Rajput took one wicket for 43 runs.
Ulva was named Player of the Match for his decisive contribution in the chase, while Sehwag received the Player of the Tournament award.
The defeat ended Pakistan’s hopes of defending their title despite entering the final unbeaten, having won all three group matches, including an earlier victory over India, before defeating Bangladesh in the semi-final.
