India skipper Ayush Mhatre won the toss and chose to bat first against England in the ICC Under‑19 World Cup final at Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe. Both teams entered the title clash unbeaten, setting the stage for a thrilling contest.
Mhatre said the pitch looked hard and ideal for posting a big score. England captain Thomas Rew welcomed the decision, noting that his side preferred to chase on a wicket that has consistently supported batting throughout the tournament.
India showcased their batting strength in the semi‑final by chasing down 311 against Afghanistan, while England impressed with a disciplined all‑round performance against Australia. India are playing their 11th U19 World Cup final, aiming for a record sixth title. England, winners in 1998, are contesting their second final since then, having lost to India in the 2022 decider.
Playing XIs
India U19: Aaron George, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ayush Mhatre (c), Vihaan Malhotra, Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (w), RS Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan Patel, Henil Patel, Deepesh Devendran
England U19: Ben Dawkins, Joseph Moores, Ben Mayes, Thomas Rew (w/c), Caleb Falconer, Ralphie Albert, Farhan Ahmed, Sebastian Morgan, James Minto, Manny Lumsden, Alex Green
When and Where to Watch
- Date: Friday, February 6, 2026
- Venue: Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe
- Live TV: Star Sports Network (India)
- Live Streaming: JioStar app and website
