India scripted history in Harare as a sensational century-plus knock from 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi propelled them to a dominant victory over England in the U19 World Cup final.
BY PC Bureau
February 6, 2026: India sealed a historic triumph at the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026, defeating England by 100 runs in a one-sided final at Harare Sports Club on Friday to lift their record-extending sixth U19 World Cup title.
Led by Ayush Mhatre, India produced a performance of dominance and maturity, registering the largest margin of victory by runs in an U19 World Cup final, underlining their supremacy throughout the tournament.
The final was illuminated by a sensational innings from 14-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, whose breathtaking 175 off just 80 balls powered India to a towering total of 411/9 in 50 overs — the highest team total ever recorded in an U19 World Cup final.
Suryavanshi’s Masterclass Sets Up Historic Total
Walking in after the early loss of opener Aaron George, Suryavanshi unleashed a masterclass in modern limited-overs batting. Mixing fearless strokeplay with remarkable composure, the left-hander dismantled the England bowling attack, peppering the boundary with clinical precision.
He reached his century in just 55 balls, one of the fastest hundreds in Under-19 World Cup history, and accelerated further to complete 150 off 71 deliveries, leaving England shell-shocked.
His monumental innings featured 15 fours and 15 sixes, a record for the most sixes in a single U19 World Cup innings. Suryavanshi eventually fell for 175, but by then India had already stamped their authority on the contest.
Valuable support came from Ayush Mhatre (52), Arshin Kulkarni (48) and Sachin Dhas (41), as India crossed the 400-run mark, setting England a daunting target of 412.
6 U19 WC TROPHIES FOR INDIA..!!
Congratulations Team India & Ayush Mhatre.
Beat England in U19 WC Final at Harare. India The World Champions..🏆
— MANU. (@IMManu_18) February 6, 2026
Falconer Fights Lone Battle as England Fall Short
In reply, England began steadily but soon lost wickets at regular intervals against India’s disciplined bowling attack.
Caleb Falconer produced a defiant counter-attack, smashing 115 off 67 balls, including a flurry of boundaries and towering sixes, briefly raising hopes of an improbable chase.
However, with wickets tumbling at the other end, Falconer’s resistance proved in vain. Once he was dismissed, England’s innings quickly unravelled.
India’s bowlers shared the spoils, led by Saumy Pandey (3/42), Naman Tiwari (3/47) and Raj Limbani (2/38), as England were bowled out for 311 in 45.4 overs, sealing a comprehensive 100-run victory.
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A Dominant Tournament Run
India’s triumph capped a perfect campaign, as they won all their matches en route to lifting the trophy, displaying unmatched consistency, depth, and tactical excellence.
For skipper Ayush Mhatre, the title marked a proud moment, as India reaffirmed their status as the most successful team in U19 World Cup history.
This victory adds to India’s previous titles in 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, and 2022, extending their record to six championships.
Scorecard
India – 411/9 (50 overs)
Vaibhav Suryavanshi 175 (80)
Ayush Mhatre 52 (63)
Arshin Kulkarni 48 (46)
Sachin Dhas 41 (35)
Extras: 28
England Bowling:
Alex Green 3/76
Harry Moore 2/71
Jacob Bethell 2/64
England – 311 all out (45.4 overs)
Caleb Falconer 115 (67)
Ben Dawkins 49 (58)
Thomas Rew 36 (41)
India Bowling:
Saumy Pandey 3/42
Naman Tiwari 3/47
Raj Limbani 2/38
