India and Afghanistan Set for Thrilling U19 World Cup 2026 Semifinal Showdown
Harare, Feb 4 — The ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 enters its climax today as India U19 take the field against Afghanistan U19 in the second semifinal at Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe. India, unbeaten through five matches in this tournament, will be strong favourites to extend their flawless run and book a place in the final against England U19, who earlier overcame Australia.
Led by skipper Ayush Mhatre, India have displayed consistent team balance with key contributions from batters like Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Abhigyan Kundu and bowlers such as Henil Patel, whose wickets have often shifted momentum in India’s favour. The side has also registered a statement 58-run win over Pakistan in the Super Six stage, underlining their intent in the knockout phase.
Afghanistan U19 arrive in Harare with confidence after a strong campaign, having won four of their five games. Their batting threat, spearheaded by Faisal Shinozada, and a disciplined bowling unit have made them a dangerous opponent capable of pulling off an upset. This fixture marks a rare marquee encounter between the two sides at youth level, and Afghanistan will be eager to reach their first ICC final.
The Harare pitch demands solid technique and patience, with variable bounce likely to challenge batters. Clear weather conditions should allow a full, uninterrupted 50-over contest.
The match is scheduled for a 1:00 PM IST start, with the toss at 12:30 PM IST. Fans in India can catch the live telecast on Star Sports and stream the action via JioHotstar.
