The ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 comes down to this: India vs England, February 6th, Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe. Both teams have looked sharp all tournament, and now it’s all on the line. India’s chasing a record sixth U19 World Cup trophy, while England hasn’t lifted the title since 1998; they’re hungry for it.
India made it to the final in style. They smashed Afghanistan by seven wickets in the semis, chasing 311 runs with almost nine overs left. That’s the biggest run chase ever pulled off in U19 World Cup history. England didn’t have it easy either. They took down last year’s champions, Australia, by 27 runs. Their captain, Thomas Rew, hammered a century to get them over the line.
This is India’s tenth time in the final; they’ve already got five titles on the shelf. For England, this is their third shot at the trophy. Both teams haven’t lost a single match so far, so it’s all set for a real showdown. Cricket fans everywhere will be glued to their screens, waiting to see which of these young teams takes home the glory.
Match Details: IND-U19 vs ENG-U19
Here are the Key Details of India U19 vs England U19
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | England U19 vs India U19, Final |
| Series | ICC Under 19 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | February 6, 2026 |
| Time | 1:00 PM IST (7:30 AM GMT) |
| Venue | Harare Sports Club, Harare, Zimbabwe |
| Streaming | JioHotstar |
| Broadcast | Star Sports Network |
Head-to-Head Record: IND-U19 vs ENG-U19
| Statistic | IND U19 | ENG U19 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 7 | 7 |
| Wins | 5 | 2 |
Performance in This Tournament
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IND U19 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 100% |
| ENG U19 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 100% |
Top Performers In The Tournament
Here are the Top Performers from both teams:
| Player | Team | Category | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Mayes | ENG U19 | Batter | 399 runs |
| Vaibhav Suryavanshi | IND U19 | Batter | 264 runs |
| Manny Lumsden | ENG U19 | Bowler | 15 wickets |
| Henil Patel | IND U19 | Bowler | 10 wickets |
Pitch Report: Harare Sports Club
Here is the pitch report that tells us the quality of the pitch:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Pitch Character | Balanced. The surface offers fair assistance to both batters and bowlers. It tends to be slow, which makes stroke-play tricky at times. |
| Early Advantage | Pacers. Fast bowlers get some movement with the new ball in the first few overs. The surface provides some carry early on. |
| Mid-Game Shift | Spinners. As the game progresses, slower bowlers gain more grip and turn. They become harder to get away as the pitch dries out. |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 229 runs (ODIs) |
| Boundary Dimensions | Square boundaries around 62-64 meters, straight boundaries around 68-69 meters. Not too big, but the slow outfield makes boundaries tough. |
| Toss Strategy | Bat first. Teams batting first have a slight edge here as the pitch slows down later, making chasing difficult. |
Probable Playing XI
Here are the probable playing 11 of both teams:
India U19
Aaron George, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Ayush Mhatre (C), Vedant Trivedi, Vihaan Malhotra, Abhigyan Kundu (WK), R.S. Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan Patel, Henil Patel, Deepesh Devendran
England U19
Ben Dawkins, Joseph Moores, Ben Mayes, Thomas Rew (C/WK), Caleb Falconer, Ralphie Albert, Farhan Ahmed, Sebastian Morgan, James Minto, Manny Lumsden, Alex French
Team Analysis
Here is some key information about both teams:
India U19
India rolls into this final riding a massive wave of confidence. They’ve just blown through the tournament, winning all six games without breaking a sweat. Also, their semifinal against Afghanistan, That was something else. Chasing 311, they didn’t just scrape by; they got there with seven wickets in hand and almost nine overs left. You don’t see that kind of dominance every day.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been nothing short of electric with the bat. He’s only 14, but he’s hammered 264 runs at a strike rate over 147. Oh, and he’s launched 15 sixes more than any Indian has ever managed in a single U19 World Cup. Aaron George has picked his moments, too. He hit a hundred in the semifinal, showing he can hold things together when the pressure’s on.
Captain Ayush Mhatre is leading by example, making an impact both with the bat and the ball. The bowlers have backed him up, with Henil Patel and Kanishk Chouhan doing a solid job and sharing the load. Honestly, India’s U19 World Cup pedigree is hard to argue with. Five titles, nine finals before this, they know exactly what it takes to win on the big stage.
England U19
England’s run in this tournament has been nothing short of brilliant. Six games, six wins, they just keep delivering. That semifinal against Australia, they stared down the defending champs and didn’t blink. Thomas Rew, the captain, stepped up big time with a century that sealed the deal.
Ben Mayes has been on another level with the bat. He sits at the top of the run charts with 399 runs in six innings. His 191 against Scotland wasn’t just a personal best; it matched the second-highest score ever in the U19 World Cup. When Mayes gets going, he can tear apart any bowling attack.
On the bowling front, Manny Lumsden has led the way. He’s picked up 15 wickets more than anyone else in the tournament. The 17-year-old quickly grabbed five against New Zealand and just keeps finding ways to make an impact. England haven’t lifted the U19 World Cup since 1998, and you can sense how badly this group wants to change that.
Key Players To Watch
Here are the best players to watch out for in battle:
Best Batter: Vaibhav Suryavanshi (IND U19)
At just 14, this kid has already shaken up the cricket world. He landed an IPL contract, making him the youngest ever to do so. In this tournament, Suryavanshi racked up 264 runs with a strike rate north of 147. And that knockout punch, His 68 from only 33 balls in the semifinal against Afghanistan.
He set the whole chase in motion. He doesn’t wait around either. From the very first ball, he’s looking to score fast, especially in the powerplay. And honestly, with the way he sends sixes flying, bowlers never get to relax.
Best Bowler: Manny Lumsden (ENG U19)
Hampshire’s young fast bowler has been England’s go-to guy with the ball. Lumsden leads the tournament with 15 wickets in just six games. And that five-for against New Zealand, He tore through their lineup like it was nothing. And he’s only 17.
He’s already quick, and he can swing the ball both ways. India’s batters have to watch out, especially when he’s fresh and charging in at the start.
Match Prediction
This final has all the makings of a real classic. Both teams haven’t lost a match so far, and each side has players who can turn the game on their own. India’s got the upper hand in their U19 clashes with England, and don’t forget they beat England in the 2022 U19 World Cup final by four wickets.
India’s batting just looks a bit stronger. Suryavanshi, Aaron George, and Mhatre have all shown they can put up big scores. The way they chased down that target in the semifinal really showed off their depth. England, on the other hand, will lean hard on Ben Mayes and Thomas Rew to get the runs. If one of them has a big day, England can set or chase down any total.
Now, the pitch at Harare Sports Club usually gets slower as the game goes on, so batting first is a big plus. You can bet both captains want to win the toss and get their team out to bat. And with India having played in nine previous finals, they know how to handle the pressure.
So, who wins? India U19 comes in as the slight favorite. They’ve got the stronger batting, loads of experience, and they haven’t tasted defeat in this tournament. Suryavanshi and Aaron George look unstoppable right now, and the bowling attack has plenty of match-winners too. England’s no pushover, they could spring a surprise, but India’s record as five-time champs says a lot.
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Conclusion – Epic Final Expected As Top Title Contenders Clash
Get ready for a real showdown. India U19 takes on England U19 in the World Cup final, and you can feel the excitement building. Both teams have steamrolled through the tournament, and now they’re just one win away from history. India is chasing their sixth title, trying to stretch their record even further. England, they’re hungry. It’s been 28 long years since they last lifted this trophy, and you bet they want it badly.
Keep an eye on the young guns: Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Aaron George, Ben Mayes, and Manny Lumsden. These guys are the future, and you’ll see why when they hit the field. No matter who takes the cup, cricket fans are in for a treat. The Harare Sports Club’s about to witness something special.
