Lakshya Raichandani Hits 93 as India Crush Afghanistan by Eight Wickets in Semifinal

India ripped through Afghanistan’s bowling attack on Thursday in Al Amerat, turning an Asian semifinal into an outright procession. Lakshya Raichandani bludgeoned 93 off 90 deliveries as India Under-19 overhauled a 228-run target with eight wickets in hand and 79 balls to spare. It was total domination. The victory punches India’s ticket to the ACC Men's U19 Asia Cup 2026 final, setting up a titanic title showdown against defending champions Pakistan on Saturday.

Afghanistan won the toss and opted to set a total on a dry Oman surface, but their innings never broke free from the stranglehold imposed by India's seam and spin tandem. Despite half-centuries from Noman Salarzai and Shah Faisal Rahimi, Afghanistan ground their way to 227 for 8 across 50 overs—a total that proved hopelessly inadequate against India's red-hot top order.

Savsani and Sood Wreck Afghanistan's Middle Order

For more than 35 overs, Afghanistan harbored ambitions of a late assault. At 143 for 3 in the 36th over, they possessed the wickets in hand to mount a sprint toward 260. Yet India slammed the door shut during the death overs. Aryan Savsani broke the game wide open in a fiery two-wicket burst in a single over, removing Amir Hamza and Tahir Sarwary in rapid succession to strip the momentum clean away from the batting side.

Left-arm spinner Ishan Sood emerged as India's primary executioner, ripping through the order to finish with 3 for 43 from his allocation. Savsani snapped up 2 for 29, while Manal Chauhan and Yashbardhan Chauhan choked the scoring channels to suffocate the tail. Both Salarzai and Rahimi crawled to identical scores of 51, each consuming valuable deliveries without finding boundaries against India's relentless field settings. A late, unbeaten 36 off 44 balls from captain Sohail Khan pushed Afghanistan past the 200-run barrier, but India's bowling unit had already dictated terms.

Raichandani, Sehwag, and Vineeth Carve Up the Target

Any Afghan hopes of defending 227 evaporated within the opening hour of India's response. Raichandani and Aaryavir Sehwag tore into the new ball, carving boundaries at will and punishing loose deliveries through the off-side. Their blistering 117-run opening stand broke Afghanistan's spirit before drinks, scoring at nearly a run a ball.

Sehwag compiled a fluent 51 off 57 deliveries before falling shortly after his milestone, having laid an unshakeable foundation for the chase. Raichandani then stepped on the accelerator, peppering the ropes with clinical strokeplay and pulling with supreme authority. The Indian skipper fell agonizingly short of triple figures on 93, caught off Sohail Khan seven runs shy of a hundred, but the contest was already over as a contest.

VK Vineeth stepped in to extinguish any lingering doubts, rotating the strike before anchoring the final stretch. Vineeth raced to an unbeaten 57, sealing the semifinal in emphatic fashion by launching Noor Ali Niazi over the ropes for six to lock the scoreboard at 230 for 2 in the 37th over.