India entered the tournament as favorites and lived up to the billing, topping Group A with wins over UAE (by 10 wickets), Pakistan (90 runs), and Malaysia (by 321 runs). Their semi-final chase of 132 against Sri Lanka was clinical, led by Malhotra’s unbeaten 61. Overall, India’s batting firepower (team average 85.3) and bowling economy (4.2 rpo) have been unmatched.Pakistan stumbled in their opener against India but rebounded spectacularly, thrashing UAE by 70 runs and Malaysia by 297 runs (powered by Minhas’ unbeaten 177). Their semi-final masterclass—Subhan’s 4/20 dismantling Bangladesh—showed grit, but the batting fragility exposed against India (all out for 150) looms large.
Head-to-head in U19 ODIs:
India leads 10-3 in recent encounters, including this tournament’s group clash.
Spotlight on Stars: Tournament Stats That Matter
