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The ICC U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup has reached its business end. After weeks of high-octane action, we are down to the final four. On Wednesday, the mighty India U-19 side will lock horns with a spirited Afghanistan U-19 unit at the Harare Sports Club. For India, it is a familiar stage; they are eyeing a spot in their sixth consecutive final. For Afghanistan, this is history in the making, as they look to topple the giants and book a maiden ticket to the summit clash.

Also Read: T20 World Cup: Teams and Players with the highest number of Titles

India has been the team to beat in this tournament. The "Boys in Blue," led by Ayush Mhatre, are unbeaten and look unstoppable. They stormed into the semi-finals after a comprehensive 58-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the Super Six stage. With a perfect record of five wins in five games, and having crushed teams like Zimbabwe (by 204 runs) and New Zealand earlier, India’s confidence is sky-high.

Afghanistan, however, has been the surprise package of the World Cup. They topped their group with three straight wins, including a dominant showing against New Zealand. Their only stumble came against Sri Lanka in the Super Six, but they bounced back quickly to qualify. They are no longer just "underdogs"; they are genuine contenders who have played fearless cricket.

Historically, India has dominated this contest. The two sides have met four times in U-19 World Cups, and India has won every single time. However, Afghanistan will draw confidence from their performance in the U-19 tri-series in India last year, where they managed to beat the India 'A' and 'B' sides. While the stats favour India, knockout games bring a different kind of pressure.

Key Players to Watch - India

Vaibhav Suryavanshi: The aggressive opener is India's tone-setter. With 196 runs and two fifties under his belt, he will look to attack the Afghan bowlers from ball one.

Abhigyan Kundu (WK): India’s Mr Consistent. He is currently the team’s leading run-scorer with 199 runs. His ability to build an innings in the middle overs makes him the backbone of the batting lineup.

RS Ambrish: The pacer has been lethal with the new ball, picking up 11 wickets so far. If there is any movement in the air, he will be the man to provide early breakthroughs.

Vihaan Malhotra: A true match-winner. His unbeaten 109 against Zimbabwe showed his class, and he provides crucial balance to the side.

Key Players to Watch - Afghanistan

Faisal Shinozada: The tournament's breakout star. He has amassed a staggering 325 runs at an average of over 81. If India doesn't get him out early, he can take the game away single-handedly.

Nooristani Omarzai: While Afghanistan is known for spin, Omarzai has led their pace attack brilliantly, taking 12 wickets. He will be the key to stopping India’s powerful top order.

Mahboob Khan (C): The captain has led with grit and determination. He will need to rally his troops and be sharp with his tactical changes against a strong Indian lineup.

Expected Playing XI

India U-19 XI

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Aaron George, Ayush Mhatre (C), Abhigyan Kundu (WK), Vihaan Malhotra, Mohamed Enaan, Harvansh Singh, RS Ambrish, Henil Patel, Saumy Pandey, Kiran Chormale.

Afghanistan U-19 XI

Faisal Shinozada, Khalid Ahmadzai, Mahboob Khan (C), Osman Sadat, Uzairullah Niazai, Aziz Mia Khil (WK), Nazif Amiri, Nooristani Omarzai, Wahidullah Zadran, Khatir Stanikzai, Abdul Aziz.

Match Details: India vs Afghanistan, Semi-Final 2

Date: Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Time: 1:00 PM IST (9:30 AM Local Time)

Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare, Zimbabwe

Weather Forecast

The weather in Harare could be tricky. The forecast predicts a day with scattered clouds and a chance of thundershowers in the afternoon. Temperatures will hover around 26°C. A rain interruption is possible, so the DLS method might come into play.

Pitch Report

The pitch at the Harare Sports Club is generally slow and dry, which traditionally helps spinners. However, in this tournament, pacers have found success with the new ball. Batting might be tough early on, but runs can be scored once the batsmen settle in. Expect a score of around 240-260 to be competitive.

Streaming Details
TV: Star Sports Network

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