U19 Asia Cup: Aaryavir Sehwag flaunts class and style as India beat Nepal

Aaryavir Sehwag gave a glimpse of his batting range as India Under-19 started their Asia Cup campaign with a comprehensive 10-wicket win over Nepal in Dubai on Friday.

Chasing a modest target of 129, the son of former India opener Virender Sehwag remained unbeaten on 70 off 52 balls, hitting seven fours and four sixes. Alongside skipper Lakshya Raichandani, who made 53 not out from 63 deliveries, he guided India home in just 19.1 overs. The pair put together an unbroken century stand as India completed the chase without losing a wicket. | Highlights from U19 Asian Cup IND vs NEP |

Aaryavir’s innings had a hint of Sehwag style. He was quick to use his feet against both pace and spin and was particularly severe whenever the bowlers offered him width or length.

His first boundary came in the fifth over when he angled into a full delivery from left-arm pacer Shushil Rawal and drove smoothly through covers. Rawal then tried to shorten his length and take the ball to the right-hander. Aaryavir responded by coming down the pitch and smashing the delivery through the same area. He kept batting outside his crease to ensure that the left-arm pacer’s movement did not bother him when the ball was new during the chase.

The first six arrived in the 10th over. Spotting a full delivery from off-spinner Bipin Sharma, Aaryavir danced down the track and drove it over long on. He grew in confidence as the run-up progressed and held his position after hitting the ball cleanly into the stands.

He brought up his half-century in style, lifting fast bowler Abhay Yadav over the ropes and watching the ball hit the screen.

Virender Sehwag’s son Aaryavir Sehwag brings up his first youth ODI fifty during the U19 Asia Cup – reaches the milestone in just 34 balls ONE7 (@17pixles) November 6, 2026

Aaryavir heads into the tournament after an impressive run in age-group cricket. In October, he hit the headlines in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, India’s domestic under-19-over-50 competition, with a 143-ball 173 for Delhi against Chandigarh. The innings included 19 fours and eight sixes, though Delhi lost the match.

He also had a productive outing against Australia Under-19 in Rajkot in September, scoring 28, 47 and 34 in three ODIs. The opening tournament of the Asia Cup was another opportunity to show that he can shift gears and take control of the chase.

There was also interest in Anvay Dravid, who was also part of the Indian team. However, the 129-run target was chased down so comfortably that he didn’t get a chance to bat.

The Indian bowlers had taken care of the win earlier in the day. Tall fast bowler Ishan Sood led the charge with three wickets off 18 runs while Arjun Rajput returned figures of 3 for 8 as Nepal were bowled out for 128 in 42.3 overs. Darsh Sonar top-scored with a 43-ball 93 but Nepal struggled to recover after slumping to 51 for four.

The win gives India a confident start, but they face a much sterner test. They face Pakistan in their next Group A game on Sunday, a contest that is likely to offer a clearer measure of the side’s credentials.

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