India U19 secured a place in the final of the ACC U19 Asia Cup 2026 after beating Afghanistan by eight wickets in the semifinal at Al Amerat. Captain Lakshya Raichandani's innings of 93 off 90 balls powered the chase, which was completed in 36.5 overs.
Afghanistan were restricted to a total of 228 runs, a score that India were required to overhaul to reach the final. India replied with 230 for two wickets, and the chase was built around Raichandani, who batted through the innings and gave the side the control it needed. The reporting does not detail the wickets that fell along the way, but the margin of victory, with eight wickets still in hand, shows that India were never seriously troubled in the chase.
The innings carried particular weight for Raichandani himself. He had made only modest contributions in India's three earlier games in the tournament, and the 93 in the semifinal was the most substantial knock of his campaign so far. Coming after a run of quieter performances, it gave the batting order the platform it needed and allowed the chase to be completed with overs to spare.
The semifinal result sends India into the final, where they will face Pakistan on Saturday. It is a repeat of a meeting between the two sides earlier in the tournament, which means the final will be a second look at a contest the two teams have already played in this competition. The outcome of the final is not yet known at the time of reporting.
For India, the victory reflects a steady progression through the Asia Cup. The team has now beaten Afghanistan in a semifinal that required them to chase a sizeable total, and the win has positioned them for a final against a familiar opponent. Attention now turns to how the side approaches that match, with the result of the decider still to be decided.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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