In the ICC Under-19 World Cup semi-final in Harare, India, who have not lost yet in the competition, would be overwhelming favorites to defeat Afghanistan. With five championship annexations (2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, 2022), India is the most successful team in the event’s history. Australia comes in second with four trophy victories. India will try to move closer to a record-breaking sixth championship on Wednesday. India has had a fantastic tournament run, winning all five of their games with relative ease, including a Super Six victory over bitter rivals Pakistan by 58 runs.
Afghanistan has also had a respectable competition, winning four of its five matches and losing only by four wickets to Sri Lanka. India will have an advantage over Afghanistan in the knockout match based on their overall makeup and form. With two half-centuries and 199 runs from five games thus far, wicketkeeper batsman Abhigyan Kundu has been India’s best player. Big-hitting opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been in good form, stroking 196 runs in five matches with two fifties at a strike rate of 134 but the team management would want him to convert his half-centuries into three-figure scores.
The other Indian batsman to watch is all-rounder Vihaan Malhotra, who has scored 172 runs in five games. In the group stages, he scored the only century (109 not out) against Zimbabwe. Ayush Mhatre, the captain, has been reliable with the ball in hand, taking six wickets in five games with his off-break, but his batting might use some work. In just five games, he scored just 99 runs, his highest being 53. However, India might be concerned with opener Aaron Geroge’s performance because the right-handed batsman could only score 46 runs in three appearances.
Right-arm fast bowlers Henil Patel and RS Ambrish lead the Indian bowling attack. The pacers have both been outstanding up front, with 11 wickets and wickets, respectively. Khilan Patel, a left-arm orthodox spinner who has also excelled with eight scalps from five games, would provide the pair with excellent support. In addition to scoring India’s lone century, Mhatre and Malhotra, who have taken five wickets in the competition with his off-breaks, will also try to contribute with the ball.
