In a dominant display at the Harare Sports Club, India clinched their record sixth Under-19 Cricket World Cup title on Friday, thrashing England by a massive 100 runs in the 2026 final. Captain Ayush Mhatre led the young brigade to glory, etching his name into cricket history alongside five other illustrious skippers who have previously hoisted the trophy for India.
The journey began in 2000 with Mohammad Kaif steering India to their first U19 World Cup triumph. Fast forward to 2008, and a young Virat Kohli, now a global superstar, captained the side to victory. Unmukt Chand followed suit in 2012, lifting the cup in Australia. Prithvi Shaw’s aggressive leadership shone in 2018, while Yash Dhull guided the team in 2022. Now, Mhatre joins this elite list with the 2026 conquest.
India’s batting firepower set the tone in the final. Winning the toss and batting first, they piled up 411 for 9, powered by Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s breathtaking 175. England crumbled to 311 all out in 40.2 overs, handing India their biggest-ever final margin. This match shattered records, becoming the highest-scoring U19 World Cup game with 722 runs in total—eclipsing the previous high of 634 from the 2014 India-West Indies clash.
The 100-run victory margin is unprecedented in U19 finals, surpassing Australia’s 79-run win over India in 2024. Adding to the spectacle, 31 sixes were smashed across both innings—the most in any youth ODI—19 from India’s bats and 12 from England. Australia’s four titles keep them second, with Pakistan, England, South Africa, West Indies, and Bangladesh trailing with fewer successes.
This triumph underscores India’s unparalleled dominance in youth cricket, nurturing talents who often graduate to senior stardom. As the nation celebrates, eyes are already on the next generation carrying forward this golden legacy.