The Blue Era: India currently hold five major ICC titles after U19 World Cup victory in Zimbabwe

Harare [Zimbabwe], February 6 (ANI): India U19 men's cricket team captured their sixth ICC Under-19 World Cup on Friday, overpowering England by 100 runs in a high-octane final held at Harare Sports Club in Harare.

The victory also consolidates India's position as the concurrent holders of five major ICC titles: Men's T20 World Cup (2024), ICC Champions Trophy (2025), Women's ODI World Cup (2025), Women's U19 World Cup (2025), and now the Men's U19 World Cup (2026), according to Cricbuzz.

After electing to bat first, India posted a record-shattering 411/9, led by Vaibhav Suryavanshi's scintillating 175 off 80 balls, which included 15 fours and 15 sixes. Captain Ayush Mhatre added 53 off 51 balls, while Abhigyan Kundu contributed a brisk 40 from 31 deliveries. Chasing 412, England struggled despite a valiant 115 from Caleb Falconer, who struck nine fours and seven sixes. England lost momentum from 142/2 to 177/7, extending their wait for a second U19 World Cup since 1998.

India's blistering total, combined with disciplined bowling, highlighted the depth of talent emerging from the BCCI Academy and reinforced India's dominance at the junior level. The 31 sixes hit by India set a new record for any Youth ODI final, surpassing the previous mark of 23. This triumph also completes a rare double, with India simultaneously holding both the ICC Under-19 Men's and Women's World Cup titles.

Led by the composed and tactically astute Ayush Mhatre, India's unbeaten campaign featured consistent performances from several young stars. Vaibhav Suryavanshi's whirlwind 175, the first 150-plus score in an Under-19 World Cup knockout match, proved decisive in the final, cementing his status as one of the tournament's standout players.

This historic win underscores India's growing dominance in international cricket across formats and genders, reflecting the BCCI's long-standing commitment to structured player development and excellence at the grassroots and age-group levels. With titles across men's, women's, and junior competitions, India now stands unrivalled in world cricket.

Brief Scores: India: 411/9 (Vaibhav Suryavanshi 175, Ayush Mhatre 53, James Minto 3/63) beat England: 311 (Caleb Falconer 115, Ben Dawkins 66, RS Ambrish 3/56). (ANI)

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