India vs Afghanistan, U-19 World Cup 2026 semifinal: Preview
India are set to face Afghanistan in the second semi-final of the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 on Wednesday, February 4, at the Harare Sports Club in Harare, with a place in the final at stake.
Led by Ayush Mhatre, India have enjoyed a flawless run so far, winning all their matches in the tournament. The Men in Blue began their campaign with a six-wicket win over the USA, followed by a tense 18-run victory against Bangladesh, before sealing top spot in Group B with a commanding seven-wicket win over New Zealand.
Afghanistan, meanwhile, have scripted an impressive campaign of their own. They opened with a 28-run victory over South Africa and then outplayed West Indies and Tanzania to finish Group D at the top. Despite a four-wicket loss to Sri Lanka in the Super Six stage, the Mahboob Khan-led side bounced back in emphatic fashion, thrashing Ireland by 191 runs to book their semifinal berth.
While India remain unbeaten, they will be wary of an Afghanistan side known for punching above their weight. With both teams in strong form, the contest promises to be a high-pressure, closely fought affair as the tournament nears its climax.
Players to watch
Abhigyan Kundu (India)
The 17-year-old has been India’s batting mainstay, scoring 199 runs in four innings at an average of 66.33, including two half-centuries. His ability to perform under pressure could prove vital in the knockout stage.
Henil Patel (India)
The right-arm pacer has impressed with his raw pace, picking up 11 wickets in five innings, and will be crucial with both the new ball and at the death.
Faisal Shinowzada (Afghanistan)
One of the standout performers of the tournament, the right-hander is the second-highest run-scorer overall, with 325 runs from five innings, including a century and two fifties.
Nooristani Omarzai (Afghanistan)
Afghanistan’s leading wicket-taker with 12 wickets in five innings, Omarzai is expected to pose a major threat with the new ball against India’s top order.
Pitch report
A total of 11 matches have been played at the Harare Sports Club in this tournament, with six won by teams batting second. The average first-innings score stands at 233, while the highest successful chase is 237, suggesting that captains winning the toss may prefer to bowl first.
The India U-19 vs Afghanistan U-19 semifinal will be streamed live on JioHotstar, while Star Sports Network will broadcast the match live in India.
Predicted Playing XIs
India U-19:
Aaron George, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ayush Mhatre (c), Vihaan Malhotra, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), Vedant Trivedi, RS Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan Patel, Henil Patel, Deepesh Devendran
Afghanistan U-19:
Khalid Ahmadzai, Osman Sadat, Faisal Shinowzada, Uzairullah Niazai, Mahboob Khan (c & wk), Azizullah Miakhil, Nooristani Omarzai, Abdul Aziz, Roohullah Arab, Wahidullah Zadran, Aqil Khan
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