With a perfect record in the tournament so far, a confident and well-rounded Indian team stands as the clear favorite against Afghanistan in the ICC Under-19 World Cup semi-final on Wednesday. India boasts an impressive track record, having clinched the championship title five times (2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, 2022), making them the most successful team in the tournament’s history, followed closely by Australia with four victories.
As they gear up for the semi-final, India is eager to move closer to their sixth title. They have dominated their matches, winning all five convincingly, including a notable 58-run triumph over their long-time rivals, Pakistan, during the Super Six stage.
On the other hand, Afghanistan has also performed admirably, securing four wins out of five, with their only defeat coming against Sri Lanka by four wickets. Based on current form and team dynamics, India appears to have the upper hand heading into this knockout clash.
Wicket-keeper batsman Abhigyan Kundu has shone for India, accumulating 199 runs across five outings, including two half-centuries. Big-hitting opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has also been in excellent form with 196 runs in five matches, with both players looking to convert their starts into bigger scores. Additionally, all-rounder Vihaan Malhotra, who scored a century against Zimbabwe, adds to India’s batting depth with 172 runs from five games.
5 – The number of wins for India in the 2026 ICC U-19 World Cup so far.
10-2 – India and Afghanistan’s head-to-head record in 12 Youth ODIs since 2010.
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