Bulawayo: India secured a place in the semi-finals of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026 after defeating Pakistan by 58 runs in the final Super Six match on Sunday. This victory ensures India heads into the knockout stage unbeaten and as the top team in Group 2.

According to International Cricket Council, India posted a total of 252 runs in 49.5 overs, thanks to a late innings surge led by the lower order. In response, Pakistan was dismissed for 194, falling short of the target. The Ayush Mhatre-led Indian team is set to face Afghanistan in the semi-finals in Harare on Wednesday, while Australia will compete against England in the first semi-final on Tuesday in Bulawayo.

After being put to bat first, India faced early setbacks, losing three wickets with just 47 runs on the board. However, a composed innings from Vedant Trivedi, who scored 68, helped stabilize the innings alongside supporting contributions from Vihaan Malhotra and others. A late push from Kanishk Chouhan and Khilan Patel added 71 runs in the final 10 overs, elevating India’s total.

Pakistan, aiming to surpass India and secure a semi-final berth, needed to reach the target swiftly. Despite a promising start, they lost star opener Sameer Minhas early, which hampered their chase. Contributions from Hamza Zahoor, Usman Khan, and captain Farhan Yousuf were not enough as India’s bowlers, including Player of the Match Chouhan, Mhatre, and Khilan Patel, restricted the scoring effectively.

The win reflects India’s strategic approach and depth in both batting and bowling as they prepare for the upcoming semi-final challenge against Afghanistan.