India U19 claim 6th World Cup title with 100-run win, Vaibhav’s 175 off 80 balls steals the show

India Under-19 scripted a historic triumph on Friday, defeating England U19 by 100 runs in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 final at Harare Sports Club to claim their sixth title in the tournament’s history. Chasing an imposing target of 412 , England could only manage 311 all out in 40.2 overs , unable to match the intensity and dominance displayed by the young Indian side.

Electing to bat first, India posted a massive total of 411 for 9 in 50 overs, thanks to contributions from several players. Captain Ayush Mhatre anchored the innings with a solid 53, while Abhigyan Kundu, Vedant Trivedi, Vihaan Malhotra, and Kanishk Chouhan provided crucial cameos to maintain momentum. The innings set a record as the highest team total in a U19 World Cup final, putting immense pressure on England from the outset.

Despite a valiant effort from England’s Caleb Falconer, who scored a brilliant 115 off 67 balls, the visitors struggled to keep up with the required run rate. India’s bowlers struck at regular intervals, ensuring that England never recovered after losing key wickets in the middle overs. The comprehensive victory marked one of the largest winning margins in runs in a U19 World Cup final.

The standout moment of the match came from 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi , whose blistering 175 off 80 balls turned the game decisively in India’s favour. His innings, which included 15 fours and 15 sixes , set multiple records: the highest individual score in a U19 World Cup final, the second-fastest century in U19 history, and the most sixes in a single edition of the tournament. For his exceptional performance, Vaibhav Suryavanshi was named Man of the Match , cementing his role as the star of the final.

India’s unbeaten run throughout the tournament and their dominant performance in the final underscore the depth of talent in the country’s youth setup, and with stars like Vaibhav Suryavanshi emerging on the world stage, the future of Indian cricket looks exceptionally bright.