Mohit Ulva hits last-ball boundary as India beat Pakistan to win Under-19 Asia Cup

India beat defending champions Pakistan by one wicket off the final ball in Oman on Saturday to win a record-extending ninth Under-19 Asia Cup title and their first since 2021, Reuters reported.

A comeback from the brink

Chasing 338, India were 252-8 in the 42nd over and looked beaten. Manal Chauhan and Mohit Ulva then added 57 for the ninth wicket to turn the contest.

Chauhan made 47 from 32 balls before he was dismissed with India still needing 36 runs and with one wicket left. Ulva stayed unbeaten on 49 from 26 deliveries, and No. 11 C Venkata contributed an unbeaten 11 from eight balls. With eight needed from the last over, it came down to three off the final ball, and Ulva struck leg-spinner Ahmed Hussain wide of long-off for a boundary.

Ulva said his tournament had not gone well before the final. "I knew it was my day and that I would take my team over the line," he said, adding: "I needed Manal's support, which he provided."

Pakistan's big total and India's openers

Pakistan won the toss, chose to bat and posted 337-9. Opener Usman Khan scored 107 from 111 balls, Abdul Qadir made 80 and captain Farhan Yousaf added 63.

India's reply was built on a strong start from captain Lakshya Raichandani, who scored 80 from 101 balls, and fellow opener Aaryavir Sehwag, son of India great Virender Sehwag, who made 58 from 61 deliveries. The pair added 95 for the first wicket.

Aaryavir Sehwag finished as the tournament's leading run-scorer with 361 in five innings and was named Player of the Tournament. Wicketkeeper Anvay Dravid, son of former India captain and coach Rahul Dravid, scored 19.

Manjrekar questions the celebrations

The Indian players' animated celebrations drew criticism from former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar. According to The Times of India, he posted on X: "Indian cricket should now pick guys of their own size if they want to show aggression on the field. Pak is now a soft & easy target."

The post, as quoted by the paper, continued with a suggestion involving other teams, but the quoted text is cut off.

The sources do not include a response from the Indian or Pakistani teams.

Should players tone down their celebrations against rivals, or is this part of the rivalry? Tell us in the comments.