India’s Under-19 cricketers secured their place in the Asia Cup final with a dominant eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in a rain-curtailed semi-final in Dubai.
Chasing a modest target of 139 after the match was reduced to 20 overs per side, India’s top order wavered early before vice-captain Vihaan Malhotra and Aaron George steered the side home with an unbroken 114-run partnership. The result sets up a highly anticipated summit clash against arch-rivals Pakistan, marking the first time the two neighbours have met in the tournament’s final in 11 years.
The match, held at the ICC Academy Ground, was delayed by a massive five-hour rain window, eventually forcing officials to shorten the contest from 50 overs to a T20 format.
After opting to field, the Indian bowling unit restricted Sri Lanka to 138 for 8. Spinners Kanishk Chauhan and Henil Patel were the pick of the bowlers, claiming two wickets each, while the Sri Lankan captain Vimath Dinsara (32) and Chamika Heenatigala (42) provided the only significant resistance. A late cameo of 30 from 22 balls by Sethmika Seneviratne pushed the score past 135, but it ultimately proved insufficient against a clinical Indian batting line-up.
India’s pursuit began with the early departures of teenage IPL sensations Ayush Mhatre (7) and Vaibhav Suryavanshi (9), both of whom fell to the pace of Rasith Nimsara within the first four overs. However, Malhotra, a recent Royal Challengers Bangalore signee in the IPL mini-auction, took control of the chase with an aggressive 61 not out off 45 balls. His innings included two sixes and several authoritative boundaries, while George anchored the other end with a steady 58 not out from 49 deliveries. The pair showed remarkable maturity, rotating the strike and punishing loose balls to reach the target with two overs to spare.
The upcoming final is historic, as India seeks its ninth Under-19 Asia Cup title. The last time India defeated Pakistan in the final was in 2014, featuring a squad that included future senior stars like Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Sanju Samson, and Kuldeep Yadav.
India will hold a psychological edge heading into the final, having already defeated Pakistan by 90 runs during the group stages of this edition. Pakistan reached the final by defeating defending champions Bangladesh by eight wickets in the second semi-final, ensuring that the 2025 tournament concludes with a blockbuster encounter between the subcontinent's greatest rivals.