Sports

Bengaluru, Nov 14 (IANS) Abdul Hannan scored in the last minute of regulation time as FC Bengaluru United produced a late fightback to hold Real Kashmir FC to a thrilling 2-2 draw in their Indian Football League (IFL) 2026/27 encounter at the Bangalore Football Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday.

Khullakpam Zahir Khan opened the scoring for the Snow Leopards in the 11th minute before Colombian midfielder Maikol Andres Herrera equalised for the hosts in the 21st minute. Defender Shanid Valan, who was adjudged the Man of the Match, restored Real Kashmir’s lead with an audacious strike in the 29th minute, only for Under-22 centre-back Abdul Hannan to head home a dramatic 90th-minute equaliser.

With this result, FC Bengaluru United moved to four points from three matches, while Real Kashmir registered their second consecutive draw to sit on two points from three outings.

Both sides took a little time to settle into their stride, but it was Ishfaq Ahmed’s Real Kashmir who drew first blood in the 11th minute. Overloading the flanks in numbers to stretch the Bengaluru backline, the visitors delivered an inviting cross into the box where youngster Khullakpam Zahir Khan rose well to direct a clinical header past FC Bengaluru United goalkeeper Manjunath Hirekurbar.

After conceding the early opener, Mohanraj Nallappan’s hosts, turning out in their all-red kit, slowly began to find their shape as the match moved into the second quarter.

A moment of sheer brilliance in the Silicon Valley brought FC Bengaluru United level in the 21st minute when Colombian playmaker Maikol Andres Herrera Casseres unleashed a stunning right-footed curling strike from distance that sailed over Real Kashmir custodian Susnata Malik and into the back of the net.

The equaliser sparked an open, end-to-end phase of play as both teams looked to penetrate the opposition defence whenever they gained possession, testing both goalkeepers on multiple occasions.

Real Kashmir reclaimed the lead in the 29th minute through another moment of magic, as defender Shanid Valan met a cross inside the box and produced a stunning left-footed back-heel volley to put the Snow Leopards 2-1 ahead.

FC Bengaluru United, led up front by Russian captain Marat Tareck and supported in midfield by Ribhav Sardesai, Ngangbam Naocha Singh, Gautam A Virwani, Chunsaba Bariam, and Lalramdinsanga 'Ramdina' Ralte, continued to hunt for a second equaliser.

The hosts came agonisingly close in the 38th minute when Susnata Malik and the last man of the Real Kashmir defence—marshalled by Cameroonian Alain Eyenga, Oinam Sanatomba Singh, and Amzard Khan—were comprehensively beaten, only for the crossbar to come to the visitors' rescue.

End-to-end action continued through the third quarter of the opening period as Trinidad and Tobago striker Marcus Leric Jr Joseph came close to extending Real Kashmir’s advantage on a couple of occasions, but failed to apply the finishing touch from inside the box as an action-packed first half ended 2-1 in favour of the visitors.

Real Kashmir made a change at the interval, introducing Burkina Faso midfielder Eric Traore in place of skipper Marcus Joseph, while FC Bengaluru United brought on Daniel and forward Akshunna Tyagi for Colombian defender Brayan Alexander Cundumi Lastre and Ribhav Sardesai in the 50th minute.

Both teams tried their luck with long-range efforts during the opening 10 minutes of the restart without seriously troubling either goalkeeper.

Even after Eric Traore was shown a card in the 58th minute, Real Kashmir looked solid at the back and continued to dictate terms as the game crossed the hour mark. Moments later, FC Bengaluru United goalkeeper Manjunath Hirekurbar was caught off guard by a fierce long-range strike from the visitors, but the woodwork came to his aid as the effort rattled the crossbar.

Ishfaq Ahmed refreshed his side in the 69th minute with a double substitution, bringing on Joseph Lalvenhima and Adersh Mattummal for Zahir Khan and Lalawmpuia Sailo (Omoma). The Snow Leopards continued to dominate the second half and carved out a golden opportunity to seal the game when Lesotho forward Thabiso Nelson Brown found himself in space at point-blank range, only to miss the best chance of the match as the scoreline remained unchanged.

While Real Kashmir retained possession and controlled the tempo heading into the final quarter, FC Bengaluru United threw on Vinil Poojary for skipper Marat Tareck in the 81st minute before Maikol Herrera picked up a booking in the 84th minute. Real Kashmir also brought on H Lalrempuia for goalscorer Shanid Valan in the 87th minute to see out the game.

However, out of the blue and completely against the run of play, FC Bengaluru United broke through in the 90th minute. Earning a set-piece in a promising position, Lalramdinsanga 'Ramdina' Ralte whipped in an inviting free-kick and defender Abdul Hannan rose highest above three Real Kashmir defenders around him to power a precise header past a helpless Susnata Malik.

More drama followed during the six minutes of stoppage time added at the end of regulation play, which also saw late bookings for Abdul Hannan and Real Kashmir midfielder Mohit Mittal in the 90+6th minute.

In the final minute of added time, Manjunath Hirekurbar produced his best save of the evening to preserve a point for the hosts, denying Thabiso Brown once again from point-blank range despite Real Kashmir having two more men unmarked inside the penalty box.

In the end, the one-goal cushion proved insufficient for the Snow Leopards, who were left to rue their missed opportunities as FC Bengaluru United held on for a hard-earned share of the spoils.

--IANS

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Muscat, Nov 14 (IANS) Pakistan captain Farhan Yousaf admitted that wayward bowling cost the defending champions the U19 Asia Cup title after they failed to defend their 337-run total against India, suffering a thrilling one-wicket defeat in the final on Saturday.

Pakistan had put up what Yousaf believed was a good enough total, but India's lower order staged a remarkable fightback to chase down 338 in 50 overs and clinch the title for a record-extending ninth time. "I think that was a good enough total, but India played excellent cricket," Yousaf said after the match.

Reflecting on where Pakistan fell short, the captain pointed directly to the bowling performance, particularly after his side had put India under pressure by reducing them to 254/8. "All the boys were doing perfectly, but unfortunately we were wayward with our bowling. That's why we lost the match," he said.

Pakistan were within two wickets of victory when Manal Chauhan and Mohit Ulva turned the game around with a 57-run partnership. Chauhan scored 47 off 32 balls, while Ulva remained unbeaten on 49 to take India closer to the target.

With eight runs needed from the final over, Ulva and Chigurupati Venkata kept their composure against Ahmed Hussain. The equation came down to three runs off the last ball, which Ulva struck for a boundary to seal India's one-wicket victory.

Pakistan's bowling also came under pressure in the closing overs as India collected 19 runs in the 43rd over and continued to find boundaries through the final stages of the chase. Rizwanullah claimed three wickets, while Niqab Shafiq took two for Pakistan.

Earlier, Pakistan had posted 337/9, with Usman Khan scoring 107 off 111 balls, Abdul Qadir making 80 off 54 deliveries and Yousaf contributing 63 off 60 balls. India fought back in the death overs, with Kavya Patel claiming four wickets and Chigurupati Venkata taking three.

Yousaf also addressed Pakistan's slow over-rate, explaining that the time taken by the team's three fast bowlers contributed to the delay.

"Obviously, we go with the three pacers, and obviously all the pacers are taking time. That's why we were too late. And in the end we just plan according to the situation. That's why we were getting late," he said.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 14 (IANS) Delhi's Aaryavir Sehwag has the potential to carve his own identity and create his own records in cricket, said Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) president Rohan Jaitley while praising the young batter after India's triumph in the Under-19 Asia Cup.

Aaryavir, son of former India opener Virender Sehwag, played a key role in India's title-winning campaign, finishing as the tournament's leading run-scorer with 361 runs in five matches, including a century and three half-centuries, claiming the Player of the Tournament award.

"Heartiest congratulations to the Indian U-19 team! They put up an exceptional performance. Delhi’s Aaryavir Sehwag, son of former India opener Virender Sehwag, showcased tremendous talent and played some fantastic cricket. He has the potential to carve his own identity and create his own records in the game. I wish him continued success in his cricketing journey. Sometimes talent speaks louder than legacy," Jaitley told IANS.

India crowned their record ninth U-19 Asia Cup title by beating archrivals Pakistan by one wicket in a nerve-wracking final at Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Muscat, Oman, on Saturday.

Chasing 338, India reached 339/9 in 50 overs, with Mohit Ulva striking a boundary off the final delivery to seal the victory. Captain Lakshya Raichandani top-scored with 80, while Aaryavir contributed 58 off 61 balls, including nine fours.

Chauhan and Ulva then kept India in the contest with a crucial 57-run partnership. Chauhan and Ulva then brought India back into the game with an important stand of 57 runs.

Chauhan made 47 off 32 deliveries, while Ulva remained unbeaten on 49. Chigurupati Venkata, unbeaten on 11, provided support as the pair negotiated a tense final over, with India needing eight runs from the last six balls.

Pakistan had earlier scored 337/9 with Usman Khan hitting 107, Abdul Qadir 80 and captain Farhan Yousaf 63. Kavya Patel took four wickets, while Venkata was also among the wickets for India.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 14 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Indian U19 cricket team for winning the Men's U19 Asia Cup 2026, describing it as an ‘outstanding day for Indian cricket’ and saying the young players' success would inspire several youngsters.

PM Modi took to social media to express his pride in the team's performance after India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan by one wicket in a thrilling final at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 2) in Muscat on Saturday.

"Outstanding day for Indian cricket! Immensely proud of our young cricketers for today’s impressive performance and for winning the Men’s U-19 Asia Cup 2026. Their success will inspire several youngsters. Best wishes to the team for their endeavours ahead," PM Modi wrote on X.

India chased down Pakistan's target of 338 runs, finishing at 339/9 in 50 overs to claim the title for a record-extending ninth time. The final went down to the last delivery, with Mohit Ulva striking a boundary off Ahmed Hussain to seal a memorable victory.

Captain Lakshya Raichandani led India's chase with a crucial 80 off 101 balls, while Aaryavir Sehwag contributed 58 off 61 deliveries. After India slipped to 254/8, Manal Chauhan and Ulva revived the innings with a 57-run partnership.

Chauhan scored 47 off 32 balls, while Ulva remained unbeaten on 49. With eight runs required from the final over, Ulva and Chigurupati Venkata kept their composure to bring the equation down to three runs off the last ball. Ulva then struck the winning boundary to complete India's one-wicket victory.

Earlier, Pakistan posted 337/9 after Usman Khan scored 107, Abdul Qadir made 80, and captain Farhan Yousaf contributed 63. For India, Kavya Patel claimed four wickets, while Chigurupati Venkata picked up three.

The victory marked India's ninth U19 Asia Cup title and denied defending champions Pakistan the opportunity to retain their crown.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 14 (IANS) Disha Kasat’s unbeaten 91 took Vidarbha to an eight-wicket win over Delhi in the first round of the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy Super League stage on Saturday. It was also a day when defending champions Maharashtra, Railways and Karnataka also tasted success.

Disha, who will turn out for Mumbai Indians in the 2027 Women’s Premier League (WPL), hit 10 sixes and two fours in her 54-ball knock in Vidarbha’s victory at the Narendra Modi Stadium Ground B. After Delhi made 169/5, Vidarbha completed the chase in 17.3 overs.

Skipper Mona Meshram stood firm at the other end and remained not out on 43 from 24 balls. Mona and Disha added an unbroken 106-run stand for the third wicket, with the latter taking the Player of the Match award. Boundaries made up 68 of Disha’s 91 runs, thus underlining how thoroughly she dominated the Delhi bowling attack.

Delhi, who chose to bat after winning the toss, were given a solid base by in-form batter Tanisha Singh, who remained not out on 78. Shweta Sherawat added 35, but the total was never going to be enough against Disha’s onslaught. Yashshri Soley was the pick of Vidarbha bowlers with 2-34. Vidarbha will next take on Karnataka on Monday.

Elsewhere, at the Gujarat College Cricket Ground 'A', the Smriti Mandhana-led Maharashtra beat Andhra by 48 runs. They posted 161/6 in 20 overs, with Gautami Naik top-scoring with 34, and then restricted Andhra to 113/9. Dnyaneshwari Patil led the attack with 3-19, while Anuja Patil chipped in with both bat and ball – after making 31, she picked 2-22.

In the third clash of the day, Mumbai made 157/9 in 20 overs, thanks to the efforts of Simran Shaikh (48) and Sanika Chalke (43). For Railways, off-spin bowling all-rounder Sneh Rana took 4-28, while Renuka Singh Thakur took 2-19.

In reply, Railways completed the chase with a ball to spare. Opener Pratika Rawal was in blistering mode – smashing 86 off 52 balls, laced with nine fours and three sixes. Sneh followed up her bowling efforts by hitting an unbeaten 37 off 30 balls to get Railways up and running with a win.

Elsewhere, Karnataka beat Baroda by five wickets, with off-spinner Shreyanka Patil taking 3-19. Her efforts, along with Ananya Hegde’s 2-26, dismantled the Baroda batting line-up as they were bowled out for 137 in 19.4 overs.

In the chase, Vrinda Dinesh set the tone for the successful chase by hitting 49 off just 16 balls, laced with four fours and five sixes, while Niki Prasad was another notable contributor with a 17-ball 31, as Karnataka got home in 13.3 overs.

--IANS

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Muscat (Oman), Nov 14 (IANS) Mohit Ulva said his belief in himself and faith in God helped him stay calm under pressure as he struck the winning boundary off the final delivery to guide India U19 to a thrilling one-wicket victory over Pakistan in the U19 Asia Cup final at Al Amerat near Muscat in Oman on Saturday.

Named Player of the Match for his crucial unbeaten 49, Ulva played a decisive role in India's successful chase of 338 at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 2) on Saturday. India finished at 339/9 in 50 overs to clinch the title for a record-extending ninth time.

Reflecting on his mindset during the tense final over, Ulva said he was confident of getting the job done despite India's position in the match.

"Nothing much. I just had belief in myself and faith in God. My Asia Cup hadn't been particularly great until then. I knew I was a bowler, but I also believed that I was an all-rounder. However, I hadn't got enough opportunities to prove myself yet. But I always believed that I could do it," he said after the match.

India needed eight runs from the final six deliveries, with Pakistan requiring just one wicket to seal the title. The equation came down to three runs from the last ball, but Ulva held his nerve and struck Ahmed Hussain for a boundary to complete the chase. "I was just waiting for that one ball. I knew I could hit a boundary and finish the game. I had complete faith in God. I knew it was my day and I would finish the game," he said.

Ulva also credited the support he received from Manal Chauhan and Chigurupati Venkata, who remained at the other end during the closing stages. Manal scored 47 off 32 balls and shared a 57-run partnership with Ulva before being dismissed in the 47th over.

"The momentum he created by going out to bat before me and setting things up was incredible. I just had to go out there and deliver," Ulva said about Manal's contribution.

He also praised Venkata for boosting his confidence during the tense finish. "He kept telling me, 'No, you can do it. Just go out and play. You will finish it.' The belief he gave me, that the two of us could get the job done on the last ball, strengthened my own confidence," he added.

Ulva said batting at number 10 had also worked in his favour, describing it as a lucky position for him. He revealed that the team had entered the chase with confidence, believing the flat pitch and their strong batting line-up gave them a chance to chase the target.

Captain Lakshya Raichandani led the chase with 80, while Aaryavir Sehwag contributed 58. After India slipped to 254/8, Manal and Ulva revived the innings before Venkata joined the latter to take India across the finish line.

"Before I went out to bat, sir personally came up to me and said, 'You can do it. Just believe in yourself.' So, I went out there and simply watched the ball and hit the ball. I wasn't thinking about what was happening or what might happen next. I wasn't overthinking anything. I was just watching the ball and playing my shots," Ulva said.

Pakistan had posted 337/9, with Usman Khan scoring 107, Abdul Qadir making 80 and captain Farhan Yousaf adding 63. For India, Kavya Patel took four wickets and Chigurupati Venkata claimed three.

Rizwanullah picked up three wickets for Pakistan in India's chase, while Niqab Shafiq took two.

--IANS

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Muscat, Nov 14 (IANS) India U19 captain Lakshya Raichandani said the team's belief in its batting depth and confidence in the lower order played a key role in their thrilling one-wicket victory over Pakistan in the U19 Asia Cup final, as the side clinched the title for a record-extending ninth time.

India chased down Pakistan's 338-run target, finishing at 339/9 in 50 overs at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 2) on Saturday. The final went down to the last delivery, with Mohit Ulva striking a boundary off Ahmed Hussain to seal a memorable victory.

"It was a rollercoaster ride. We had the belief that we would be able to chase it down as the wicket was very good for batting. I always believed in the batting strength of our lower order. We were playing with almost 11 batters," Raichandani said after the win.

The Indian captain played a crucial role in setting up the chase, scoring 80 off 101 deliveries, including five fours. He shared a 90-run opening partnership with Aaryavir Sehwag, who contributed 58 off 61 balls, to give India a solid start.

After Sehwag's dismissal, Raichandani continued to anchor the innings and built a 56-run partnership with Anvay Dravid. However, Pakistan struck twice in the 37th over, removing both Raichandani and Dravid to put India under pressure.

India subsequently slipped to 254/8, with Pakistan needing just two more wickets to secure the title. Manal Chauhan and Ulva then revived the chase with a 57-run stand. Chauhan scored 47 off 32 balls, while Ulva remained unbeaten on 49.

With India needing eight runs from the final over, Ulva and Chigurupati Venkata kept their composure to bring the equation down to three runs off the last ball. Ulva then struck the winning boundary to complete the chase.

Raichandani also thanked the fans for their support and urged them to continue backing the team.

"I thank the fans for their support and request them to keep supporting us," he said.

Earlier, Pakistan posted 337/9, powered by Usman Khan's 107, Abdul Qadir's 80 and captain Farhan Yousaf's 63. For India, Kavya Patel claimed four wickets, while Chigurupati Venkata picked up three.

--IANS

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Al Amerat, Nov 14 (IANS) India's Under-19 team always believed it could chase down Pakistan's imposing target in the U19 Asia Cup final, said Player of the Tournament Aaryavir Sehwag after the side pulled off a thrilling one-wicket victory to clinch a record-extending ninth title in Al Amerat near Muscat in Oman, on Saturday.

Chasing 338, India reached 339/9 in 50 overs, with Mohit Ulva hitting the winning boundary off the final delivery.

Captain Lakshya Raichandani led the chase with a composed 80, while Manal Chauhan and Ulva produced a crucial late partnership to keep India's hopes alive. "The discussion is that the wicket is good to bat on. There was always a belief that we would chase it down. We talk about it in team meetings; someone had to bat deep. I haven't spoken to my dad (Virender Sehwag); I will have a chat with him later," Aaryavir said after the match.

The son of former India opener Virender Sehwag finished the tournament as its leading run-scorer, with 361 runs from four matches, including a century and three half-centuries. India's chase kicked off with a 95-run opening stand between Aaryavir and Raichandani. Aaryavir, who was struck on his right forearm while playing on the off-side by Ali Raza, got back and scored 58 off 61 balls with nine fours.

Raichandani then steadied the innings with an 80 off 101 balls, but Pakistan kept taking wickets at regular intervals. India went into a bit of a hole after losing wickets in bunches, taking a tumble with the loss of Raichandani and Anvay Dravid in the 37th over, followed by Aryan Savsani and Kavya Patel.

Chauhan and Ulva then combined for a 57-run stand to take the team home. Chauhan struck a fluent 47 off 32 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes, while Ulva was 49 not out.

Chauhan said he remained focused when Ulva joined him at the crease and recalled the confidence the latter showed in their ability to finish the chase. "I was very focused. At that time, Ulva came to bat; he only said that we can finish. Just trust your process, trust yourself," he said.

Reflecting on the faith shown in him by the coaching staff to play the finisher's role, Chauhan thanked them for backing him throughout the tournament. "Yes, for that, I would really like to thank the support staff as well. They believed in me as a finisher, and the coach showed a lot of trust in me. They backed me right till the end. They told me just one thing -- once you go out to the middle, simply enjoy yourself and play your game," he said.

Chauhan also explained how he approached the chase, with India needing more than 100 runs when he came to the crease and the required run rate hovering around 10. "At that moment, I just had faith in myself. I was doing the calculations as I went along. I felt that even if I managed to hit just one boundary in an over and take four singles, we could comfortably maintain a run rate of 10 runs per over. So, the only thing on my mind was to make sure I hit at least one good shot every over," he said.

Chauhan was eventually dismissed for 47 in the 47th over, leaving India needing more runs with only one wicket remaining. He admitted that the pressure of the situation had affected him and that he was emotional after missing out on seeing the chase through.

"Yes, at that moment, I was putting a little too much pressure on myself. When I went inside, I even had a few tears in my eyes because opportunities like these don't come very often, and we had come so close to winning the match," he said.

Ulva and Chigurupati Venkata then held their nerve in the final overs. India needed eight runs from the last over and three off the final delivery. After collecting singles and surviving a stumping appeal, Ulva connected with Ahmed Hussain's final ball and sent it to the boundary to seal a memorable victory.

Earlier, Pakistan had posted 337/9 after centuries from Usman Khan and valuable contributions from Abdul Qadir and captain Farhan Yousaf. Usman scored 107 off 111 balls, while Qadir made 80 off 54 and Yousaf added 63.

--IANS

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Gangtok, Nov14 (IANS) The 49th Junior (U-19) National Badminton Championships got underway here on Saturday, marking a significant milestone for Indian badminton as the tournament becomes the first national championship in the country to feature an all-women panel of chair umpires.

A total of 17 umpires from across the country have been selected to officiate at the prestigious national championship. These umpires were selected after assessing their performances at the All India Ranking Tournament (u-15/u-17) held in Jaipur earlier this year.

The Inter-State team event will be played over two days, with the individual events starting on November 16th.

The Minister for Sports & Youth Affairs, Raju Basnet, said, "It's a great honour for all of us to have participants from all over India in this beautiful and wonderful state of Sikkim."

Highlighting the significance of the all-women chair umpiring panel, he added, "With an all-female team of umpires officiating this tournament, Sikkim is at the forefront of women's empowerment, and this is just another step forward."

Explaining the reason behind the initiative, Badminton Association of India (BAI) Secretary General Sanjay Mishra said, “This is an important step towards encouraging more women to take up officiating at the highest level. Our objective is to create a larger pool of qualified and experienced women umpires in the country and provide them with opportunities to officiate at major national events."

"This initiative will also inspire more women to pursue umpiring as a career,” Mishra added.

Organising Secretary Sukanta Das said hosting the U-19 Nationals for the first time in Sikkim was a matter of immense pride, with the tournament also giving the state an opportunity to be part of a historic moment in Indian badminton. On behalf of Sikkim Badminton, we have immense gratitude to the Chief Minister, Shri Prem Singh Tamang (Golay), for his wholehearted support and for extending state-event status to the championship. "It is a matter of great pride and happiness for Sikkim to host the U-19 National Championships for the first time. It is even more special that the tournament is creating history with an all-women panel of chair umpires,” he added.

Maharashtra, Haryana advance to semis

Badminton action on the court saw formidable outfits like Maharashtra girls and Haryana boys registering comfortable wins in their opening clashes.

In the girls' event, Maharashtra packed off Assam 2-0 while Haryana boys got the better of their counterparts from Maharashtra with an identical scoreline.

Uttarakhand boys and girls defeated host Sikkim in both the events to advance to the last four stage.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 14 (IANS) Former cricketers Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly, Irfan Pathan and BCCI CoE head VVS Laxman led rich praise for India’s Under-19 side after they beat Pakistan by one wicket to win the Men’s U19 Asia Cup in a thrilling clash in Muscat.

Pakistan set India a daunting target of 338, but half-centuries from skipper Lakshya Raichandani (80) and Aaryavir Sehwag (58), followed by late contributions from Manal Chauhan (47) and Mohit Ulva (49 not out), carried the chase to its dramatic conclusion.

Sehwag, the former India opener and father of Aaryavir, applauded the young team’s character in a post on X. “What a match! What a finish! To beat Pakistan in an U19 Asia Cup final chasing 338 takes some serious character. Lakshya’s 80, Aaryavir’s 58, and then Manal Chauhan and Mohit Ulva’s Jalwa when we needed a miracle. What an unbelievable victory. Proud of these young Champions!"

Former India captain Ganguly also praised the team on X, with a special mention for Aaryavir, who was adjudged Player of the Tournament for scoring 361 runs, the most by a batter in the competition.

“Well done India under19 .. superb performance .. young Sehwag .. what a tournament he had.. every other member of the team as well .. Veeru must be very proud @virendersehwag,” he said.

Former India left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan wrote on X, “What a win by our u19 boys vs Pakistan. Showed the real fighting character. Brilliant to see.”

Laxman wrote on X, “Heartiest congratulations boys. The resilience, grit and composure you displayed under pressure was outstanding. You showed great character, belief and determination when it mattered most. Proud of the way you represented India. Keep learning and keep raising the bar. Well done team.”

Ex-India opener Aakash Chopra wrote on X, “An absolutely stellar win by our Under-19 boys against Pakistan in the Asia Cup finals. So so proud and happy for each one of them. Jai Hind. Jai Bharat.”

Player of the Match Ulva, who hails from Lakhtar in Surendranagar district, finished unbeaten on 49 off 26 balls, hitting five fours and three sixes, to guide India home. The Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) also congratulated India Under-19 team, and its President Jaydev Shah, also a BCCI Apex Council Member, singled out Ulva’s epic knock and another player from the state, Aryan Savsani.

“It is indeed a remarkable, phenomenal and outstanding achievement by Team India to emerge victorious against Pakistan in such a thrilling and nail-biting final. The manner in which our young team chased down a challenging target of 337 runs reflects their tremendous character, confidence and determination.

“Mohit Ulva’s match-winning and historic unbeaten innings of 49 runs is particularly special and shall be remembered for a long, long time. It is a moment of immense pride for Saurashtra cricket.

“Having witnessed his progress and performances, I am confident that Mohit has a very bright future ahead and will go on to represent Team India on numerous occasions and in many prestigious tournaments. I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Mohit, Aryan and the entire Indian Under-19 team for this magnificent achievement,” added Shah.

--IANS

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