U19 Asia Cup final: India eyes improved batting, bowling effort against Pakistan

India’s run to the final has been defined by individual performances rather than a collective team effort. | Photo Credit: BCCI/X

India will be eyeing a stronger support for lead performers Aaryavir Sehwag and Ishan Sood to tame defending champion Pakistan in the final and reclaim the Under-19 Asia Cup here on Saturday.

Pakistan beat India by 151 runs last year for its second title while the Boys in Blue will be hunting for their record-extending ninth trophy.

Aaryavir, son of former India opener Virender Sehwag, has amassed 303 runs from four matches at an average of 101 with a hundred and two fifties to lead the tournament’s run chart so far.

The strapping Sood has used his considerable pace to good effect to take 11 wickets from four matches, guiding India’s bowling unit.

But beyond these two, the likes of skipper Lakshya Raichandani, wicketkeeper-batter Anvay Dravid, middle-order batters Arjun Rajput and VK Vinneeth have not exactly set the field ablaze.

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Rajput made a breezy hundred against Pakistan in a group-stage match which India lost, while Raichandani’s 93 played a big part in India outclassing Afghanistan in the semifinals where Vineeth also made an excellent fifty.

They have flickered in isolation, and India will need a change in that trend to beat a strong Pakistan side.

India’s bowling too offers a similar story. Sood has done the bulk of the work, delivering every time when the skipper threw the ball at him.

But Sood will require more backing from spinners Rajput and Manal Chauhan. They have taken five wickets each, but three of them came in a single match.

For Pakistan, Usman Khan (238 runs) and pacer Rizwanullah (11 wickets) are the top performers, and Hamza Zahoor, who made a 100 against India at the league stage, will be eager to repeat that effort.

Apart from Rizwanullah, Pakistan also have in-form Mohammad Sayyam (8) and Ali Raza (6 wickets) in its efficient bowling ranks.