The ICC Under-19 World Cup holds a special place in cricket. It provides young players with a platform to showcase their talent before they step into international cricket. Since its first edition in 1988, this tournament has helped discover some of the biggest names in the sport.
Players such as Virat Kohli, Brian Lara, Yuvraj Singh, Kane Williamson, and Steve Smith all competed in the U19 World Cup early in their careers. The tournament is held every two years and features teams from around the world competing in a 50-over format.
India leads the all-time tally with six titles. Australia has four wins, Pakistan has two, and England, South Africa, West Indies, and Bangladesh have one title each. The 2026 edition took place in Zimbabwe and Namibia, where India won their sixth title with a 100-run victory over England in the final.
ICC Under-19 World Cup Winners List (1988-2026)
Here is the complete list of U19 World Cup winners from 1988 to 2026:
| Year | Host Country | Winner | Runner-Up | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Namibia/Zimbabwe | India | England | India won by 100 runs |
| 2024 | South Africa | Australia | India | Australia won by 79 runs |
| 2022 | West Indies | India | England | India won by 4 wickets |
| 2020 | South Africa | Bangladesh | India | Bangladesh won by 3 wickets (D/L) |
| 2018 | New Zealand | India | Australia | India won by 8 wickets |
| 2016 | Bangladesh | West Indies | India | West Indies won by 5 wickets |
| 2014 | UAE | South Africa | Pakistan | South Africa won by 6 wickets |
| 2012 | Australia | India | Australia | India won by 6 wickets |
| 2010 | New Zealand | Australia | Pakistan | Australia won by 25 runs |
| 2008 | Malaysia | India | South Africa | India won by 12 runs (D/L) |
| 2006 | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | India | Pakistan won by 38 runs |
| 2004 | Bangladesh | Pakistan | West Indies | Pakistan won by 25 runs |
| 2002 | New Zealand | Australia | South Africa | Australia won by 7 wickets |
| 2000 | Sri Lanka | India | Sri Lanka | India won by 6 wickets |
| 1998 | South Africa | England | New Zealand | England won by 7 wickets |
| 1988 | Australia | Australia | Pakistan | Australia won by 5 wickets |
U19 World Cup Titles By Country
This table shows how many U19 World Cup titles each country has won:
| Team | Titles | Winning Years |
|---|---|---|
| India | 6 | 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, 2022, 2026 |
| Australia | 4 | 1988, 2002, 2010, 2024 |
| Pakistan | 2 | 2004, 2006 |
| England | 1 | 1998 |
| South Africa | 1 | 2014 |
| West Indies | 1 | 2016 |
| Bangladesh | 1 | 2020 |
Here is a closer look at every U19 World Cup winner and the key players who stood out in each edition.
1. India (2026)
India won their record sixth U19 World Cup title on 6 February 2026 at the Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe. They beat England by 100 runs in a high-scoring final. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stole the show with a stunning 175 off just 80 balls. His knock included 15 fours and 15 sixes. This is the highest individual score in any U19 World Cup knockout match. Captain Ayush Mhatre added a solid 53 to help India post 411/9.
In reply, England fought hard through Caleb Falconer’s brilliant 115 off 67 balls and Ben Dawkins’ 66. But India’s bowlers kept picking up wickets at key moments. RS Ambrish led the bowling attack and bowled tight spells throughout the innings. England finished at 311, falling 100 runs short.
Key Players: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Player of the Match and Tournament), Ayush Mhatre (Captain), RS Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan Patel
2. Australia (2024)
Australia won its fourth U19 World Cup title in South Africa in 2024. They beat India by 79 runs in the final. The Australian side showed strong all-round skills throughout the tournament.
Their batters adapted well to different conditions, while their bowlers stayed disciplined in crunch moments.
Key Players: Hugh Weibgen, Harjas Singh, Oliver Peake
3. India (2022)
India claimed their fifth U19 World Cup title in the West Indies in 2022. They beat England by 4 wickets in the final. India’s young bowlers took early wickets and restricted England to just 189.
The batters then chased down the target in 47.4 overs. This win showed India’s depth and ability to perform under pressure on the big stage.
Key Players: Raj Bawa, Ravi Kumar, Yash Dhull (Captain), Dewald Brevis (South Africa), Dunith Wellalage (Sri Lanka)
4. Bangladesh (2020)
Bangladesh made history in South Africa in 2020 by winning their first-ever ICC title at any level. They beat India by 3 wickets through the D/L method in a rain-affected final.
The team showed great composure in a tense, low-scoring game. Their fielding and bowling stood out throughout the tournament.
Key Players: Akbar Ali (Captain), Shoriful Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Yashasvi Jaiswal (India), Ravi Bishnoi (India)
5. India (2018)
India went through the entire 2018 tournament in New Zealand without losing a single match. They beat Australia by 8 wickets in the final.
Shubman Gill starred with the bat and finished as one of the top run-scorers. The bowling unit stayed sharp and took wickets at regular intervals.
Key Players: Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw, Ishan Porel, Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan), Harry Brook (England)
6. West Indies (2016)
West Indies won their first U19 World Cup title in Bangladesh in 2016. They beat India by 5 wickets in the final.
The Caribbean side brought power hitting along with tight bowling. They handled the pressure of knockout games with skill and energy.
Key Players: Keacy Carty, Alzarri Joseph, Shimron Hetmyer, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Bangladesh), Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
7. South Africa (2014)
South Africa won their only U19 World Cup title in the UAE in 2014. They went unbeaten through the tournament and beat Pakistan by 6 wickets in the final.
Aiden Markram led the team with consistent batting and smart captaincy. Kagiso Rabada terrorized batting lineups with his pace.
Key Players: Aiden Markram (Captain), Kagiso Rabada, Kyle Verreynne, Nicholas Pooran (West Indies), Kyle Jamieson (New Zealand)
8. India (2012)
India won their third title in Australia in 2012. They beat Australia by 6 wickets in the final. The team had balanced contributions from both batters and bowlers.
They posted competitive totals and restricted opponents effectively through the group and knockout stages.
Key Players: Unmukt Chand (Captain), Sandeep Sharma, Baba Aparajith, Travis Head (Australia), Litton Das (Bangladesh)
9. Australia (2010)
Australia won its third U19 World Cup title in New Zealand in 2010. They beat Pakistan by 25 runs in the final.
Mitchell Marsh led the team with maturity. Josh Hazlewood’s brilliant bowling helped them defend a modest total in the final.
Key Players: Mitchell Marsh (Captain), Josh Hazlewood, Joe Root (England), Ben Stokes (England), Babar Azam (Pakistan)
10. India (2008)
India won their second title in Malaysia in 2008 under the captaincy of Virat Kohli. The team went unbeaten through the tournament.
In the rain-affected final against South Africa, India won by 12 runs through the D/L method. Kohli led from the front with consistent batting.
Key Players: Virat Kohli (Captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Pradeep Sangwan, Kane Williamson (New Zealand), Steve Smith (Australia), Trent Boult (New Zealand)
11. Pakistan (2006)
Pakistan made history in Sri Lanka in 2006, becoming the first team to defend the U19 World Cup title. They beat India by 38 runs in a low-scoring final.
Pakistan’s bowlers dismantled the Indian batting lineup with a disciplined display. The back-to-back wins showed the strength of Pakistan’s youth cricket system.
Key Players: Anwar Ali, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Cheteshwar Pujara (India), Rohit Sharma (India), Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh)
12. Pakistan (2004)
Pakistan won their first U19 World Cup title in Bangladesh in 2004. They beat West Indies by 25 runs in the final.
The team relied on strong bowling and smart game plans throughout the tournament. Several players from this squad later became key members of Pakistan’s senior team.
Key Players: Khalid Latif, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shikhar Dhawan (India), Alastair Cook (England), Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka)
13. Australia (2002)
Australia won their second U19 World Cup in New Zealand in 2002. They went unbeaten through the tournament and beat South Africa in the final by 7 wickets.
Cameron White led the team with consistent performances. The squad had strong depth in both batting and bowling.
Key Players: Cameron White (Captain), George Bailey, Suresh Raina (India), Ross Taylor (New Zealand)
14. India (2000)
India won their first U19 World Cup title in Sri Lanka in 2000. They beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in the final. Yuvraj Singh played a key role with his all-round skills.
Mohammad Kaif led the team and guided them through tough games with calm leadership. This victory put India on the map in youth cricket.
Key Players: Mohammad Kaif (Captain), Yuvraj Singh, Graeme Smith (South Africa), Michael Clarke (Australia), Shane Watson (Australia)
15. England (1998)
England won the first official ICC U19 World Cup held in South Africa in 1998. They beat New Zealand by 7 wickets in the final.
England’s bowlers and batters performed consistently through the tournament. This remains England’s only U19 World Cup title to date.
Key Players: Graeme Swann, Rob Key, Virender Sehwag (India), Chris Gayle (West Indies)
16. Australia (1988)
Australia won the inaugural U19 World Cup held on home soil in 1988. The tournament was called the McDonald’s Bicentennial Youth World Cup.
Australia beat Pakistan by 5 wickets in the final. Playing in front of their home crowd, the young Australians showed strong batting and sharp bowling. This tournament laid the ground for all future U19 World Cups.
Key Players: Brian Lara (West Indies), Nasser Hussain (England), Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka), Mushtaq Ahmed (Pakistan)
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Conclusion – India Has The Most U19 World Cup Titles
The ICC Under-19 World Cup continues to play a huge role in shaping cricket’s future. It has launched the careers of countless legends and given fans early glimpses of tomorrow’s stars. India leads with a record six titles, but teams such as Australia, Pakistan, and others have also left their mark.
The 2026 edition in Zimbabwe and Namibia added another exciting chapter. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 175 in the final will go down as one of the greatest U19 World Cup performances ever. As the tournament progresses, it will continue to produce young talent that shapes international cricket for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
India has won the most U19 World Cup titles, with six: 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, 2022, and 2026.
The U19 World Cup takes place every two years. It gives young cricketers from around the world a chance to compete at the international level.
India won the U19 World Cup 2026. They beat England by 100 runs in the final at Harare, Zimbabwe. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored 175 off 80 balls and took the Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament awards.
Many top cricketers played in the U19 World Cup early in their careers. This includes Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Brian Lara, Kane Williamson, Joe Root, Steve Smith, Shubman Gill, Kagiso Rabada, Shaheen Afridi, and Babar Azam.
The tournament features 16 teams split into groups for a round-robin stage. The top teams then move into knockout rounds, including Super Six, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final.
India’s total of 411/9 against England in the 2026 final is the highest team score in a U19 World Cup final. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 175 is the highest individual score in a U19 World Cup knockout match.
