One game to go: India, England eye U19 World Cup glory

Ayush Mhatre and Thomas Rew will be leading India and England in pursuit of glory as they lock horns in the upcoming ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 Final in Harare.

Speaking ahead of the summit clash, Thomas Rew is determined to keep things simple. Despite the magnitude of the occasion, Rew insists the approach remains unchanged for an England side seeking their first U19 World Cup title since 1998.

Their closest recent attempt came four years ago, when they were beaten by the same opposition in the final.

Rew played a pivotal role in England’s journey to the summit clash, scoring a sublime century in a tense semi-final victory over Australia and guided England to a 27-run win.

“It means a lot,” Rew said.

“We came into this tournament with one aspiration, and now there is just one more game left. We have all dreamed of lifting this World Cup, but we have to treat it as just another game of cricket.”

England’s top order has been a major strength throughout the tournament, with the impressive Ben Mayes leading the run charts for his side after amassing 399 runs so far. Rew was quick to credit his fellow batters for consistently setting strong foundations.

“It really helps batting with our top order,” he added. “Every single person puts pressure back on the bowler, and that takes the pressure off whoever comes in next.

“All the credit has to go to them. The communication within the squad has been really good, and I’m just trying to play my strong shots.”

India, meanwhile, also arrive at the final unbeaten and full of confidence. The five-time champions once again find themselves in the title match for the ninth occasion after a dominant campaign.

Their semi-final win over Afghanistan showcased their batting depth, with Aaron George notching up a superb 115 (104) as India scripted the tournament-best successful chase of 311. George’s opening partner Vaibhav Sooryavanshi set the tone at the top with a blistering 33-ball 68, providing the platform for the rest of the innings.

Captain Ayush Mhatre, who contributed a fluent 62 runs off 59 balls, echoed Rew’s sentiments about staying grounded ahead of the final.

“England are a fabulous team and they’re playing really well in this tournament,” Mhatre said.

“For us, it’s about playing our natural game, taking each ball on its merit, and adapting to the conditions. We want to keep things simple.”

Reflecting on the semi-final, Mhatre highlighted the importance of intent and partnerships.

“Against Afghanistan, we spoke about batting for a long time. Vaibhav’s start was crucial, as it released the pressure and allowed us to build the innings. We focused on ones and twos and put away the loose balls.”

Meanwhile, India’s bowlers will also be looking to sharpen their execution ahead of the final.

“Afghanistan batted very well,” Mhatre added. “Our bowlers did a good job but there are always areas to improve, and we’ll be working on that.”

With both sides unbeaten and boasting depth in all departments, the stage is set for a compelling finale as England and India chase U19 World Cup glory in Harare on February 7.

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