IND vs PAK U19 Final : All eyes on Suryavanshi as India begin Under-19 Asia Cup final vs Pakistan

India will walk into Sunday’s Under-19 Asia Cup final with history on their side and a record 12th title in sight. Led by Ayush Mhatre, India have been the most dominant team of the tournament, winning all their group matches before easing past Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the semi-finals.

Pakistan stand between India and the trophy. They finished second in Group A, with their only defeat coming against India, a comprehensive 90-run loss last Sunday. Pakistan recovered well to defeat defending champions Bangladesh and book their place in the final.

India’s campaign has been defined by consistency and depth across departments, making them firm favourites heading into the title clash at the ICC Academy in Dubai.

India’s path to the final has been powered by remarkable batting performances. The team has crossed 400 twice in the tournament, underlining the strength of their top order.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s 95-ball 171 against UAE set the tone early, but it was Abhigyan Kundu who stole the spotlight. The 17-year-old wicketkeeper-batter smashed an unbeaten 209 off 125 balls against Malaysia, becoming the first Indian to score a double hundred in Youth ODIs.

Both batters will be crucial against Pakistan’s pace-heavy attack, especially on a surface where runs have flowed freely throughout the tournament.

While the headlines have focused on India’s big scores, the middle order has quietly played a vital role. Aaron George has been a pillar of stability, scoring three consecutive half-centuries during the tournament.

Vihaan Malhotra also stepped up when required, finishing unbeaten on 61 against Sri Lanka in the semi-final to guide India home without fuss. This ability to absorb pressure and finish games cleanly has added a layer of assurance to India’s batting unit.

In a final where nerves often play a role, India’s middle-order reliability could prove decisive.

India’s bowling attack has matched their batting firepower, led by pacer Deepesh Devendran. He is joint-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 11 wickets, sharing the top spot with Pakistan’s Abdul Subhan.

Deepesh’s five-wicket haul against Malaysia showcased his control and aggression, while his three-wicket burst against Pakistan in successive overs during the group stage underlined his threat in big moments.

With support from all-rounder Kanishk Chouhan, who has six wickets to his name, India’s bowling unit enters the final with confidence and clarity.

Pakistan arrive at the final knowing they must improve their batting to challenge India. While Sameer Minhas has been outstanding, scoring an unbeaten 177 against Malaysia and a half-century against Bangladesh, consistency has been an issue elsewhere in the line-up.

Their bowling strength lies in pace, with Abdul Subhan leading the attack alongside Mohammad Sayyam and Ali Raza. Spin options Niqab Shafiq and Ahmed Hussain will also have a role to play.

Pakistan won the Asia Cup once in 2012 and have finished runners-up twice since. As the match begins at 10.30 am IST, they will aim to upset favourites India and rewrite the script in yet another chapter of this fierce Under-19 rivalry.