The countdown has begun for the grandest stage in youth cricket. On Friday, February 6, 2026, the Harare Sports Club will witness a high-stakes battle between the two most dominant forces of the tournament: India Under-19 and England Under-19.
Both teams enter the final with unblemished records. India secured their spot after a thrilling chase against Afghanistan, while England overcame a formidable Australian side in the semifinals. Magicwin As the “Boys in Blue” eye their sixth world title, the “Young Lions” are hungry to end their 28-year drought.
Match Details: Date, Time, and Venue
- Fixture: India U-19 vs England U-19, Final
- Date: Friday, February 6, 2026
- Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Toss Time: 12:30 PM IST
- Match Start Time: 1:00 PM IST (07:30 AM GMT / 09:30 AM Local)
Head-to-Head Record: U-19 World Cup History
India has traditionally dominated this rivalry at the Under-19 level. Out of their 9 encounters in World Cup history, India has emerged victorious 7 times, while England has won twice.
- Total Matches: 9
- India Wins: 7
- England Wins: 2
- Last Final Meeting (2022): India beat England by 4 wickets to lift the trophy in Antigua.
The Squads
India Under-19
Ayush Mhatre (C), Vihaan Malhotra (VC), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Aaron George, R.S. Ambrish, Mohamed Enaan, Kishan Kumar Singh, Abhigyan Kundu (WK), Harvansh Singh (WK), D. Deepesh, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan A. Patel, Henil Patel, Vedant Trivedi, Udhav Mohan.
England Under-19
Thomas Rew (C/WK), Farhan Ahmed, Alex French, Sebastian Morgan, Ben Dawkins, Alex Green, James Minto, Ralphie Albert, Ben Mayes (WK), Joe Moores, Will Bennison, Manny Lumsden, Luke Hands, Caleb Falconer, Ali Farooq.
Predicted Playing XI
India Predicted XI
- Ayush Mhatre (C): The steady leader at the top.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: The tournament’s leading “enforcer” and primary run-scorer.
- Aaron George: Fresh off a magnificent century (115) in the semifinal.
- Vihaan Malhotra: The vice-captain provides stability in the middle order.
- Abhigyan Kundu (WK): Reliable behind the stumps and a handy finisher.
- Kanishk Chouhan: A vital all-rounder who stepped up when the main bowlers were under pressure.
- Mohamed Enaan: Key spin-bowling all-rounder.
- R.S. Ambrish: A potent wicket-taking threat.
- Henil Patel: The leading wicket-taker for India in this campaign.
- Khilan Patel: Crucial for maintain pressure in the middle overs.
- D. Deepesh: The pace spearhead who can swing the new ball.
England Predicted XI
- Thomas Rew (C/WK): The engine room of the English batting lineup.
- Ben Dawkins: Aggressive opener looking to provide fast starts.
- Sebastian Morgan: A reliable top-order batter and useful bowler.
- Will Bennison: Provides much-needed anchor play in the middle.
- Joe Moores: A middle-order batter capable of accelerating.
- Farhan Ahmed: The primary spinner who has been difficult to score against.
- Ralphie Albert: A clutch all-rounder who performs under pressure.
- Manny Lumsden: The strike bowler with 15 wickets so far.
- Alex Green: High-quality pace bowler.
- James Minto: Left-arm variety that could trouble the Indian top order.
- Luke Hands: Completes a very balanced bowling attack.
Key Battles to Watch
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi vs Manny Lumsden: India’s most dangerous batter against England’s most prolific wicket-taker.
- Thomas Rew vs Henil Patel: The England captain’s ability to handle India’s spin trap will be decisive.
- The Powerplay: Both teams have relied on early wickets to squeeze opponents; the first 10 overs of each innings will likely dictate the winner.
Prediction: While history and depth favor India, England’s recent victory over Australia shows they have the temperament for big games. Expect a high-scoring thriller at the Harare Sports Club!
