Chasing 338 for victory, the cause seemed lost at 252/8 before Ulva’s star turn pulled off a memorable heist

Finals rarely come with a finish like this. With one ball left, one wicket in hand and three runs needed, an 18-year-old fast bowler swung and sent the ball to the boundary. In that instant, India had beaten Pakistan by one wicket to win the 2026 ACC Men’s U-19 Asia Cup at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Muscat, completing one of the greatest chases in the tournament’s history.

India finished on 339/9 in 49.6 overs, answering Pakistan’s 337/9. It was India’s ninth U-19 Asia Cup title, and it came exactly a year after a painful defeat in the previous final.

The match in numbers

Pakistan set a mountain

Pakistan came out with the confidence of defending champions and put 337 on the board, built on a platform of three strong contributions. Opener Usman Khan led the way with a century, scoring 107. Abdul Qadir gave him support with a brisk 80, and captain Farhan Yousaf added 60 as Pakistan kept the scoreboard moving at a high pace.

India’s bowlers did enough to keep the total from running away. Left-arm bowler Kavya Patel was the pick of the attack with 4 for 68, and C Venkata chipped in with 3 for 40. Their late wickets prevented Pakistan from reaching the 350 mark, a total that would have put the game out of reach. Still, 338 to win in a final against Pakistan is a daunting task for any youth side.

A chase built in pieces

India’s reply did not follow a smooth path. It was a chase built by different batters in different phases, each rescuing the team from a tight spot.

Lakshya Raichandani gave India a strong start and top-scored with 80, the foundation on which everything else rested. Aaryavir Sehwag, son of former India opener Virender Sehwag, played a fighting half-century, finishing with 58 and showing a calm head in a high-pressure setting. Manal Chauhan added 47 and kept India in the hunt, before his dismissal, caught by Usman Khan off the bowling of Niqab Shafiq, appeared to leave India’s hopes in tatters.

At 252/8, with a big target still far away, the match looked firmly in Pakistan’s grasp. India needed 86 more runs and had only two wickets left. Many teams would have folded.

Mohit Ulva takes charge

What followed was a stunning counter-attack. Mohit Ulva, a fast bowler by trade, produced a batting innings that belonged in a highlight reel. He kept the scoreboard moving with clean hitting and nimble running, and he found the partners he needed at the other end to stay alive.

By the time Pakistan’s Ahmed Hussain ran in to bowl the final over, India were on 330/9 and Ulva was on 45. Eight runs were needed from six balls, with one wicket left, and every single carried the risk of a run-out. The over unfolded with growing tension: runs were scraped, dots were survived and the equation tightened to three off the last ball.

Then came the moment. Ulva met the final delivery and sent it to the boundary. India had 339, Pakistan had 337, and the Indian dugout erupted. Ulva walked off unbeaten on 49 from just 26 balls, having hit the winning runs on the final ball.

Redemption after Dubai

The win carries extra meaning because of what happened last year. In the previous final in Dubai, Pakistan posted 347 for 8 on the back of a record-breaking 172 from Sameer Minhas and bowled India out for 156, winning by 191 runs. It was a heavy defeat that stung young players and their supporters alike.

Twelve months later, the roles were reversed. A near-identical target, a similar stage and the same opponents, but this time India’s batting held its nerve. The youngsters who watched last year’s collapse from the stands or the dugout turned the scars into a victory.

Who is Mohit Ulva?

Ulva is an 18-year-old fast bowler whose story began in village tennis-ball cricket, the kind of path that rarely makes headlines until moments like this. He had already shown he could contribute with both bat and ball in this tournament. Against the UAE, he struck a six off the very last ball of India’s innings and later took India’s first wicket in the chase. In the group match against Pakistan, he took 2 for 45.

His final-day innings showed something more: composure. Plenty of players can hit a ball hard. Fewer can handle a final over where a single mistake ends the dream, and then find the boundary on the very last delivery.

What this win means for Indian cricket

India’s youth system has been steadily producing players who can handle pressure, and this final was a showcase. Several things stand out:

1. Depth of batting. Runs came from the top order, the middle order and the tail. Not one player carried the load alone.
2. Temperament. Teams that chase 338 in a final against Pakistan do not usually come out on top from a position of 252/8. India’s calm in the closing stages was the difference.
3. All-round contributions. Ulva’s batting and the bowling of Patel and Venkata showed a squad that could win in different ways.
4. The next generation. Many players in this tournament are likely to feature in future age-group World Cups and, later, in the senior pipeline.

The final over, ball by ball in spirit

It is worth remembering how thin the margin was. A single dot ball would have changed the equation. A run-out at the wrong moment would have ended the innings. A mistimed shot on the last ball would have sealed a Pakistan victory. Instead, a cool head, a clean swing and a bit of luck created a moment that Indian youth cricket fans will replay for years.

 

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