India’s Under-19 team kicked off their ACC Men’s U-19 Asia Cup in style as they dismantled Nepal by 10 wickets at the Ministry Turf 1 in Al Amerat, Muscat on November 6. Combining relentless bowling discipline with an assertive, dynamic run chase, India bundled out Nepal for a modest total of 128 in 42.3 overs before knocking off the required 129 runs in a mere 19.1 overs in their Group A opener.
India U-19 trounce Nepal by 10 Wickets to kick off Asia Cup 2026 campaign
The victory was engineered by a clinical bowling unit led by left-arm spinner Ishan Sood (3/18) and off-spinner Arjun Rajput (3/8), followed by an unbeaten opening stand between Aaryavir Sehwag—son of legendary Indian batter Virender Sehwag—and captain Lakshya Raichandani.
After Indian captain Lakshya Raichandani won the toss and elected to field under favorable morning conditions, India’s bowling unit extracted immediate assistance from the deck. Left-arm spinner Ishan Sood was introduced early and set the tone with a masterful display of control, accuracy, and subtle variations in pace.
Ishan Sood, Arjun Rajput break Nepal's back
Sood dismantled Nepal’s top order in rapid succession, generating persistent pressure by beating the outside edge repeatedly. He struck first by removing opening batter Suryanshu Koirala for 5, caught comfortably by Arjun Rajput at long-off. Soon after, Sood struck twice more in a matter of overs, dismissing Prasiddha Jaishi (1) and Nischal Chhetri (0) to leave Nepal reeling.
By the time Sood completed his 10-over quota, he finished with figures of 3 for 18, including four maidens, having beaten the outside edge a staggering 26 times during his spell. His spell choked the scoring rate completely, earning him the Player of the Match award.
When seamers Kavya Patel and Manal Chauhan added a wicket apiece, Chauhan trapping Niraj Kumar Yadav (20) leg-before, Nepal had slipped to a precarious 51 for 4 in the 18th over.
Faced with a collapse, Nepal sought stability through a gritty middle-order partnership between Darsh Sonar and wicketkeeper-batter Aashish Luthar. Sonar absorbed immense pressure, playing a patient, anchor role, while Luthar looked to rotate the strike and pick up boundaries when offered width.
Together, the duo added 43 runs for the fifth wicket, taking Nepal past the 90-run mark and offering a glimmer of hope for a competitive total. Luthar scored 29 off 45 balls before right-arm off-spinner Vutkuri Yashveer Goud broke the stand in the 30th over, forcing Luthar to hole out to Rajput at long-off.
Sonar continued to fight valiantly, top-scoring for Nepal with a watchful 43 off 93 deliveries, a knock decorated with a single boundary and a lone six. However, once Sonar fell to Kavya Patel in the 42nd over, caught by VK Vineeth, Nepal’s tail collapsed rapidly.
Arjun Rajput swept through the lower middle order with precision, taking 3 for 8 in 5.3 overs. Rajput trapped Sachin Bhatta (6) leg-before, had Nitesh Patel (0) castled with a delivery that skidded through, and ended Sushil Rawal's brief stay. Yashveer Goud also chipped in with two crucial middle-order wickets (2/25), as Nepal were bowled out for 128 in 42.3 overs.
ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: India may travel to Bangladesh in January for two white-ball series
Sehwag and Raichandani stand tall in India's easy chase
Chasing a target of 129, India’s openers turned what could have been a measured run chase into a masterclass in aggressive, modern white-ball batting. Skipper Lakshya Raichandani took the early initiative, settling the innings with crisp timing and textbook drive shots through the off-side.
However, as the pitch flattened out under the sun, Aaryavir Sehwag took complete charge. Reminiscent of his father’s fearless style at the top of the order, Sehwag Jr. unleashed an array of high-octane boundary hits. Moving down the track with confidence, he repeatedly lifted Nepal's spinners over the long-off and mid-wicket fences with clean swing and high elbow technique.
Sehwag brought up his half-century in just 34 balls by launching medium-pacer Abhay Yadav over wide long-on for a massive six. Raichandani reached his own half-century shortly after off 59 deliveries, anchoring the chase with a polished 53 not out off 63 balls featuring seven boundaries.
The duo surpassed the 100-run partnership mark inside 15 overs, leaving Nepal’s bowling attack with no answers. India knocked off the final runs in the 20th over, sealing an emphatic 10-wicket victory with more than 30 overs remaining in the match.
Stage set for India vs Pakistan clash
The dominant performance provides India with an ideal net run rate boost right at the start of the tournament. The bowling attack displayed lethal sharpness, while the top order demonstrated aggressive intent and tactical maturity.
With the Nepal fixture behind them, India now pivot toward their most anticipated group-stage match. India will face arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday in what promises to be a high-stakes Group A battle. If Friday's ruthless display was any indication, India U-19 are primed and operating at peak form.