India’s Under-19 cricket team is facing Afghanistan in a high-stakes semi-final of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2026 on Thursday, November 12. The contest at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman has a place in the tournament final at stake, with India’s young players looking to take another step towards the championship.
The spotlight is firmly on opener Aaryavir Sehwag, son of former Indian cricket legend Virender Sehwag, who has emerged as one of the tournament’s leading performers.
Aaryavir Sehwag Leads India’s Batting Charge
Aaryavir has scored 252 runs in three innings during the tournament, making him the leading run-scorer. His outstanding performance against the United Arab Emirates, where he smashed 160 runs off 168 balls, helped India secure a 70-run victory and qualify for the semi-finals.
His consistent performances have made him a crucial part of India’s batting line-up. Cricket fans are now watching closely to see whether the young batter can deliver another significant innings in the knockout encounter.
Afghanistan Set a Challenging Target
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first in the semi-final. The team posted 227 runs for eight wickets in its allotted 50 overs, setting India a target of 228 runs.
Noman Salarzai and Shah Faisal Rahimi contributed 51 runs each, while captain Sohail Khan remained unbeaten on 36. India’s Ishan Sood picked up three wickets, helping restrict Afghanistan to a manageable total.
India Eye a Place in the Final
India entered the semi-final after winning against Nepal and the UAE in the group stage, although they suffered a defeat against Pakistan.
The Indian team has won the Under-19 Asia Cup eight times, including one shared title. A victory against Afghanistan would take the young side into another final and bring it closer to adding another trophy to its record.
With Aaryavir’s batting form and India’s bowling strength, the knockout contest has become an important test for the country’s next generation of cricketers.