India and Pakistan faced off in a high-stakes Group A encounter at the ACC Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup 2026 in Al Amerat, Oman, on Sunday, November 8. India, led by captain Lakshya Rajesh Raichandani, were put under early pressure after opting to bat first, but a remarkable century from Arjun Rajput helped the team recover and post a total of 208 runs.
Pakistan’s bowlers made an impressive start, exploiting the early movement to dismantle India’s top order. Rajput’s attacking innings, however, prevented a difficult start from turning into a complete batting collapse.
Arjun Rajput Delivers a Memorable Knock
India’s innings began disastrously when captain Lakshya Raichandani was dismissed for a duck in the opening over. Pakistan pacer Ali Raza immediately put the Indian batters under pressure, and wickets continued to fall as the scoring rate remained low.
Aaryavir Sehwag made 22 from 40 deliveries, while VK Vineeth managed eight runs. India slipped to 22/3 before Rajput began rebuilding the innings with a confident approach.
The middle-order batter combined patience with aggressive stroke play, finding boundaries and clearing the ropes when opportunities arose. He reached his century in just 80 balls and eventually scored 107 off 85 deliveries, including 11 fours and five sixes.
Rajput received limited support from the other end. Anvay Dravid scored 10, while Manal Chauhan contributed 11. After Rajput was dismissed in the 36th over, India struggled to maintain momentum.
Kavya Paresh Patel provided a valuable late contribution of 23 runs from 45 balls, helping India cross the 200-run mark before the innings ended at 208 in 46.3 overs.
Pakistan Bowlers Keep India Under Control
Pakistan’s bowling attack shared the wickets effectively, preventing India from building substantial partnerships.
Ali Raza claimed three wickets for 37 runs, while Rizwanullah returned figures of three for 24. Left-arm spinner Niqab Shafiq also took three wickets, conceding 42 runs. Mohammad Sayyam picked up the remaining wicket.
The combined effort ensured that India’s total remained within reach despite Rajput’s outstanding individual performance.
India Strike Back During Pakistan’s Chase
Pakistan needed 209 runs to win and strengthen their position in Group A. However, India’s bowlers made an encouraging start to the second innings, taking wickets at regular intervals.
In the latest detailed match update available, Pakistan had slipped to 61/5 after 14.4 overs. Manal Chauhan claimed two wickets, while Ishan Sood, Mohit Ulva and Kavya Patel also contributed to the breakthrough.
Pakistan’s middle order faced mounting pressure as the required target remained substantial. Hamza Zahoor and Hasnain Abbas Dar were among the batters attempting to rebuild the innings in the subsequent reported update, when Pakistan had reached 94/5 after 23 overs.
That score was a developing match update, not a confirmed final result.
Both Teams Eye a Strong Position in Group A
India entered the contest after defeating Nepal by 10 wickets, while Pakistan began their campaign with a nine-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates.
The group-stage match carries significance for both sides as they seek to finish among the top two teams in Group A and advance to the semi-finals.
Rajput’s century gave India a fighting total after an early collapse, but the outcome depended on whether the bowlers could maintain pressure during Pakistan’s chase. The latest available updates showed India making important inroads, although a final result could not be verified from the information available.
