Twice free Vaibhav Suryavanshi failed to concede again as Pakistan U19s exposed their shortcomings with a sharp and disciplined plan in the crucial Super 6 clash of the U19 World Cup at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The highly-rated 14-year-old southpaw showed flashes of his undeniable talent but ultimately fell to a scrappy 30 off 22 balls, an innings that promised far more than it delivered.
Suryavanshi’s stay at the crease was defined by moments of luck rather than control. On the third ball of the eighth over, he survived two lifelines in a single passage of the game. Attempting a hook shot from outside off, he steered the ball high to square leg where Hufaiza Ahsan spilled a straight catch.
U19 World Cup India vs Pakistan Update
Suryavanshi then switched off for a while and wandered around the mid-field to be spared again as Pakistan failed to complete the run despite a sharp reverse throw. However, these runs did not lead to a change in approach. Pakistan sensed the vulnerability and stuck with the short ball.
The very next delivery proved decisive. Mohammad Sayyam slammed it again at short and Suryavanshi went for a pull in front of square only to get a bottom edge. The keeper made no mistake this time, diving forward to end the innings.
The layoffs reflected a disturbing pattern. Earlier, in the U-19 Asia Cup final against Pakistan in Dubai, Suryavanshi raced to 26 off 10 balls before being dismissed by Ali Raza, triggering India’s collapse in a heavy 191-run defeat.
While the talent is evident, repeated failures after bright starts suggest that opposition attacks, particularly Pakistan’s, are already learning how to test the youngster’s temperament and technique.
MHATRE’S LEAN RUN AGAINST PAKISTAN CONTINUES
Mhatra’s slender run against Pakistan continued as the Indian batsman endured another forgettable outing, this time falling for a duck in a crucial U19 World Cup Super 6 encounter. The dismissal only deepened his struggles against Pakistan, a side that had consistently managed to keep him quiet.
Across four youth ODIs against Pakistan, Mhatre has managed just 60 runs at a modest average of 15, numbers that underline a worrying trend. After Mohammad Sayyam removed Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the left arm probed Mhatre again.
Played a perfect length on middle and leg and shaped the ball, Sayyam took a weak edge to the keeper. There was late drama when the third umpire checked to see if he had reached the ball, but replays showed a fraction of the impact leg behind the crease, forcing Mhatre to return without scoring.
Mhatre’s World Cup totals were staggering. From five matches, he scored only 99 runs at an average of 19.80 and a strike rate of 125.31. Apart from a solitary 53 against New Zealand, consistency has eluded him at the biggest stage.
– The end
Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
February 1, 2026
