Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi flop in U19 Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan
India U19 skipper Ayush Mhatre and rising youngster Vaibhav Suryavanshi failed to deliver against Pakistan U19 in the final of the U19 Asia Cup 2025.
India U19 stars Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre failed to deliver in the final of the U19 Asia Cup 2025 against Pakistan at the ICC Cricket Academy in Dubai on Sunday, December 21. India got off to a horror start in the 348-run chase against Pakistan as they lost both skipper Mhatre and Suryavanshi cheaply.
In pursuit of a hefty target of 348 runs, India U19 were expected to start strongly in the run chase against Pakistan in the final. However, it was far from a perfect start for the Boys in Blue. Their were high hopes from Mhatre and Suryavanshi, who opened the innings together.
However, Mhatre was dismissed cheaply on 2 off 7 balls, while Suryavanshi was sent packing after a quickfire 26 off 10 balls. Mhatre was dismissed by pacer Ali Raza after handing a catch straight into the hands of Pakistan U19 skipper Farhan Yousaf. Suryavanshi too fell against Raza after getting caught by Hamza Zahoor.
The duo could add only 32 runs for the first wicket. Suryavanshi looked in sparkling touch and played some big shots to race to 26 off just 10 balls, however, his failure to play the situation and continue with his attacking game cost him his wicket in the 5th over.
No.3 Aaron George also failed to get going in the final and was dismissed cheaply on 16 off 9 balls by pacer Mohammad Sayyam in the final. Abhigyan Kundu, who smashed a double century against Malaysia in the tournament, was also sent packing cheaply on 13 off 20 balls as India were reduced to tatters at 82/6 in the big run chase.
Sameer Minhas' ton powers Pakistan U19 to 347/8
Earlier opener Sameer Minhas slammed a brilliant knock of 172 runs to help Pakistan U19 post a huge total of 347/8 in 50 overs after being invited to bat first in the U19 Asia Cup 2025 final. Minhas, the top-scorer in the tournament, looked in impeccable touch as he hammered nine sixes and 17 fours enroute to his 172-run knock.
He shared a 137-run stand for the third wicket with Ahmed Hussain (56) to set up the stage for a big total for Pakistan in the all-important final. Minhas also became the first batter in U19 Asia Cup history to score over 400 runs in a single edition of the tournament.