Captain Ayush Mhatre became the sixth Indian skipper to win the Under-19 World Cup, as his team annihilated England by 100 runs in the 2026 final at Harare Sports Club. India’s record-extending sixth title showcases a golden era of youth cricket leadership.
The pantheon includes Mohammad Kaif (2000), Virat Kohli (2008), Unmukt Chand (2012), Prithvi Shaw (2018), and Yash Dhull (2022). Mhatre’s addition completes a remarkable sextet, each triumph building on the last.
In the decider, India’s batsmen unleashed havoc, posting 411/9 with Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s stunning 175 as the cornerstone. England managed 311, succumbing in 40.2 overs. The aggregate 722 runs etched this as the highest-scoring U19 World Cup match ever, topping prior marks of 634 (2014) and 631 (2004).
Other milestones tumbled: the 100-run win is the largest final margin, overtaking Australia’s 79-run 2024 victory over India. 31 sixes lit up the game—a youth ODI record—with India contributing 19. Australia sits at four titles, Pakistan two, and singletons for England (1998), South Africa (2014), West Indies (2016), and Bangladesh (2020).
This success story highlights India’s nurturing of prodigies into champions. As celebrations echo, the focus shifts to how Mhatre and his wards will evolve, potentially mirroring predecessors’ stellar careers. India’s U19 dominance remains unchallenged, fueling dreams of future senior triumphs.