BCCI Clears Stance On Indian Players' Aggressive Celebration vs Pakistan After U19 Asia Cup Win

Indian U19 team celebrating Asia Cup 2026 triumph© X (Twitter)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has dismissed chatter regarding a cash bonus for the Indian Under-19 team following their victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2026 final on Sunday. Devajit Saikia, the BCCI secretary, stated that now is not the time to discuss financial rewards for young players who are still learning their trade in Indian cricket and will have plenty of opportunities to earn prize money in the future. According to Saikia, the sole focus at the moment should remain on improving their skills.

"These are still young players-please don't bring up topics like prize money or financial rewards; they should be focusing entirely on their game. They will have their whole lives to earn prize money, but the experience and confidence they've gained today will serve as a massive impetus for their future careers. Nothing could be more valuable than that," Saikia said in a video shared by ANI.

India clinched the final after Mohit Ulva struck a boundary off the last ball of the match, with the team needing three runs to win. The victory sparked exuberant celebrations from the Indian squad, which drew criticism from some quarters on social media.

When asked about the nature of the celebrations, Saikia downplayed the controversy, noting that the high-stakes nature of the game inevitably causes emotions to overflow.

"That reflects their character and fighting spirit. Consider how much of a cliffhanger today's match was-at one point, it really didn't look like it was in India's favour. Yet, India managed to win. This speaks volumes about the team's confidence and their 'never-say-die' attitude. When they win a match from such a difficult position, they certainly deserve to celebrate; that's something we must allow," he added.

#WATCH | Bali: BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said, "These are still young players—please don't bring up topics like prize money or financial rewards; they should be focusing entirely on their game. They will have their whole lives to earn prize money, but the experience and confidence they've gained today will serve as a massive impetus for their future careers. Nothing could be more valuable than that..." When asked about the aggressive celebration of the Indian cricket team after winning, he said, "That reflects their character and fighting spirit. Consider how much of a cliffhanger today's match was—at one point, it really didn't look like it was in India's favour... Yet, India managed to win. This speaks volumes about the team's confidence level and their 'never-say-die' attitude. When they win a match from such a difficult position, they certainly deserve to celebrate; that's something we must allow..." (14.11)

— ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2026

Chasing a daunting target of 338, India defeated Pakistan by one wicket at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman, finishing on 339/9 in a dramatic finale. Saikia credited captain Lakshya Raichandani, Aaryavir Sehwag, Manal Chauhan, and Mohit Ulva for their crucial contributions to the memorable triumph.

In a post on X, Saikia wrote: "Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainty, and today the glory belongs to the young champions of India! A real cliffhanger! India U-19 edged past Pakistan in an absolute nail-biter to lift the Asia Cup in spectacular fashion! Skipper Lakshya Raichandani and Aaryavir Sehwag set the tone, Manal Chauhan kept hopes alive, and Mohit Ulva delivered the ultimate finishing act! A triumph for the bravehearts! Huge congratulations to our young guns and the entire support team, who stood like a rock till the final blow! The nation is proud and celebrates. BCCI."

India's chase was anchored by captain Lakshya Raichandani, who scored 80 off 101 balls, alongside Aaryavir Sehwag, who contributed 58 off 61 deliveries. Manal Chauhan kept the team in contention with an attacking 47 off 32 balls, before Ulva's unbeaten knock and Venkata's 11 not out off eight deliveries carried India across the finish line.

This triumph marks India's ninth U-19 Asia Cup title, cementing their status as the most successful team in the tournament's history. Their previous title came in 2021, when they defeated Sri Lanka in the UAE.

With ANI Inputs

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