India vs Afghanistan U19: Semifinal Clash in U19 World Cup 2026 – Head-to-Head Analysis

New Delhi: The India Under-19 cricket team will face Afghanistan in the semifinal of the U19 World Cup 2026, aiming to secure a spot in the final for the sixth consecutive time. The match will be played at the Harare Sports Club.

India has been unbeaten in the tournament so far, winning all their matches convincingly. Afghanistan, on the other hand, suffered a defeat against Sri Lanka but won all their other games to qualify for the semifinals. With six players in their squad, India enters the tournament as one of the most successful U19 sides historically, having reached the final in each of the last five editions.

India vs Afghanistan U19 – Head-to-Head Record

India and Afghanistan have faced each other 12 times in Youth ODIs between 2010 and 2024. India leads the head-to-head with 10 wins, while Afghanistan has won 2 matches. The most recent encounter in 2024 in South Africa saw India win by 9 wickets. Afghanistan’s two victories came in 2019 in Lucknow against India.

Key Players to Watch

For Afghanistan:

• Faisal Sinazada has been the standout batsman, scoring 325 runs in 5 matches at an average of 81 and a strike rate of 104, including one century and two fifties.
• Nuristani Omarzai has led the bowling attack with 12 wickets in 5 matches.

For India:

• Abhignan Kundu is the top scorer with 199 runs in the tournament.
• The Indian bowling attack has been the team’s strength, with Henil Patel claiming 11 wickets, while RS Ambrish and Khilan Patel have taken 8 wickets each.
• Captain Ayush Mhatre and Vihan Malhotra have also contributed with part-time bowling, keeping opposition teams under pressure. Notably, no team has scored 200 runs against India in this tournament so far.

As India and Afghanistan gear up for the semifinals, cricket fans can expect an exciting contest with India looking to continue its unbeaten run and secure yet another final appearance.