India underlined their supremacy in underage cricket by clinching a record-extending sixth ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup title, defeating England in a one-sided final at Harare Sports Club. Powered by a sensational 175 from teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, India posted a mammoth 411/9 in their 50 overs before restricting England in their chase to secure a comprehensive victory.
The triumph marks India’s sixth U19 World Cup crown (2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, 2022, and now 2026), pulling further ahead of Australia, who have four titles. Co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia, the 2026 edition showcased the depth of Indian youth cricket, with skipper Ayush Mhatre’s side remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament.
Batting first after winning the toss, India exploded out of the gates, amassing the highest total in U19 World Cup final history. At the heart of the innings was 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, whose 175 came off just 80 balls at a staggering strike rate of 218.75. The left-hander smashed 15 fours and an incredible 15 sixes, racing to his fifty in 32 balls and his second fifty in a mere 23.
Sooryavanshi’s knock eclipsed Unmukt Chand’s previous U19 World Cup final record of 111 not out (from 2012) and became the highest individual score by an Indian in U19 World Cup history, surpassing Raj Bawa’s 162 not out in 2022. His 15 sixes in the final alone contributed to a tournament tally of 30 maximums, breaking South Africa’s Dewald Brevis’ record of 22 from the 2022 edition.
Support came from the top order, with contributions across the lineup helping India surge past 400 despite a late flurry of wickets. Rain interruptions reduced England’s chase, but the young Colts’ bowling attack proved too strong, bundling out the opposition well short of the required total in a display of disciplined pace and spin.
The victory celebrations erupted as India lifted the trophy under lights in Harare, with the team posing triumphantly in their blue jerseys beneath the gleaming silverware. The win reinforces India’s status as the undisputed powerhouse of U19 cricket, consistently producing world-class talent that feeds into the senior side.
As the cricketing world applauds this latest batch of champions, eyes are already on future stars like Sooryavanshi, whose explosive innings has marked him as one to watch on the global stage. India’s dominance at this level shows no signs of waning, cementing their legacy in the ICC Under-19 World Cup.
