U19 Asia Cup Live: Spotlight on Vaibhav Suryavanshi as India face Malaysia

Malaysia captain Deeaz Patro shares a deep personal connection with India. His father, originally from Odisha, moved to Malaysia around two decades ago in search of work and later settled there.

Deeaz was introduced to cricket at the age of four and quickly fell in love with the game. By 10, he was representing Kuala Lumpur’s Under-16 side, and at 13, he earned a spot in Malaysia’s Under-16 team.

Now captaining the Under-19 side, Deeaz credits his parents, particularly his mother, for unwavering support.

A devoted admirer of David Warner, he proudly wears jersey number 31 in tribute to the former Australian opener and visits Odisha at least once a year to stay connected to his roots.

While Malaysia sit at the bottom of Group A, their motivation remains intact. With a slim chance of sneaking into the semifinals, they are determined to challenge India and disrupt the script.

“Playing here means a lot to us,” Deeaz said, highlighting the intensity of their preparation.

High-intensity training sessions and focused tactical discussions have been the hallmark of Malaysia’s build-up to the tournament.

Even if qualification proves elusive, a strong showing against India would be a significant morale booster for a developing cricket nation.

Facing a powerhouse like India provides invaluable exposure, and the Malaysian players are keen to embrace the challenge rather than be overawed by reputation.

Despite their results so far, Malaysia have shown confidence heading into the clash against table-toppers India.

Captain Deeaz Patro and all-rounder Muhammad Aalif have revealed that the team has specific plans to contain Suryavanshi, drawing inspiration from how Pakistan managed to dismiss him cheaply.

“Vaibhav is a rising star, but we have strategies to trap him using our best bowlers,” Deeaz told TimesofIndia.com.

Malaysia believe disciplined bowling and smart field placements could help them apply pressure early.

For a side still chasing its first win, restricting India’s most explosive batter would be a major psychological boost. The Malaysian camp has stressed preparation and execution, viewing the contest as an opportunity to test themselves against the tournament favourites and leave a lasting impression.

Fourteen-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi continues to be the centre of attention after his jaw-dropping 171 off just 95 balls against UAE in the tournament opener.

The innings, laced with 14 sixes and nine fours, announced him as one of the most exciting young batting talents in age-group cricket. However, the hype was momentarily tempered when he fell for just five runs against Pakistan, failing to replicate his fireworks despite India cruising to a comfortable win.

That contrast has only added intrigue ahead of the Malaysia match, with all eyes once again on the young opener.

How Suryavanshi responds to targeted plans and early pressure will be closely watched, not just by opposition teams but by talent scouts tracking his rapid rise through the junior ranks.

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the U19 Asia Cup match between India and Malaysia at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai.

India will take on Malaysia in their third Group A match of the ongoing ACC Under-19 Asia Cup today, with contrasting stakes for the two sides.

After emphatic victories over arch-rivals Pakistan and hosts UAE, India have already secured a place in the semifinals and sit comfortably at the top of the group.

Malaysia, meanwhile, remain bottom of the table after losing both their matches but are still mathematically in contention, making this a must-win encounter for them.

For India, the game offers a chance to maintain momentum, test bench strength and fine-tune combinations ahead of the knockout stage.

Despite qualification being assured, the focus within the Indian camp remains firmly on consistency and discipline, with the team keen to avoid complacency against an opponent eager to play the role of spoiler.