India U19 vs Pakistan U19 final, Asia Cup 2026: Pakistan win toss, opt to bat first as India eye revenge in title clash

Pakistan U19 captain Farhan Yousaf won the toss and elected to bat first against India in the high-voltage final on Saturday. Both teams will be aiming to lift the trophy after facing each other in the group stage earlier in the tournament.

The decision to bat first comes amid discussions around the early morning conditions, with moisture potentially offering some assistance to the fast bowlers with the new ball. India will now look to make early inroads and put Pakistan under pressure.

Players to watch

India will have several key players to rely on in the summit clash, with Arjun Rajput among the biggest batting threats. The left-handed batter announced his arrival with a remarkable 107 off 85 balls against Pakistan in the group stage, rescuing India after they were reduced to 22/3. He also offers an off-spin option.

VK Vineeth will be another player to watch after registering back-to-back half-centuries in the tournament. His consistency with the bat will be important for India in the title clash.

Aaryavir Sehwag has also enjoyed an impressive campaign, recording scores of 70 not out, 160 and 51. His ability to score quickly and build partnerships makes him an important part of India's batting line-up.

Captain Lakshya Rajesh Raichandani will also be eager to make an impact. The Uttarakhand batter has already made his Ranji Trophy debut and scored two half-centuries in the tournament. He will be looking to make amends after being dismissed in the first over against Pakistan during the group-stage encounter.

Head-to-head record

India and Pakistan have faced each other 31 times in Under-19 cricket, with India winning 17 matches and Pakistan registering 13 victories. One match ended without a result.

However, Pakistan have enjoyed the advantage in recent meetings, with India managing just two victories in their last seven encounters since 2021.

The two teams previously met in the group stage, where Pakistan emerged victorious after a closely contested encounter. India will now be determined to turn things around and finish their campaign with the trophy.

India U19 vs Pakistan U19 squads

India U19: Lakshya Rajesh Raichandani (captain), Aaryavir Sehwag, VK Vineeth, Yashbardhan Chauhan, Arjun Rajput, Anvay Dravid (wicketkeeper), Manal Chauhan, Mohit Ulva, Aryan Savsani, Kavya Patel, Ishan Sood, Kushagra Ojha, Rajat Baghel, Shavin Vinodh, Yashveer Goud.

Pakistan U19: Usman Khan, Hayam Khan, Abdul Qadir, Farhan Yousaf (captain), Ahmed Hussain, Ali Raza, Hamza Zahoor (wicketkeeper), Hasnain Abbas Dar, Mohammad Sayyam, Rizwanullah, Niqab Shafiq, Jahangir Bilal, Huzaifa Ahsan, Mohammad Huzaifa, Abdul Subhan.