The Indian U-19 team received a timely pep talk from the legendary Sachin Tendulkar on the eve of their high-voltage U-19 World Cup clash against Pakistan. India will take on their arch-rivals on Sunday, February 1, with memories still fresh of the heated encounter in the U-19 Asia Cup final over a month ago.
Tendulkar interacted with the young Indian players via video call and shared insights from his long and distinguished career in international cricket. The interaction was attended by members of the current team, including Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who listened intently as the former India captain spoke about handling the pressure, expectations and demands of tournament cricket.
Photos shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) showed the under-19 players tuned in attentively during the session, soaking up advice from one of the game’s biggest icons.
“The Indian Under-19 team, playing in the ongoing Under-19 World Cup, had a virtual interaction with the legend of world cricket, Mr. Sachin Tendulkar. It was an invaluable experience, the next generation gained insight and perspective on the important ingredients of success and longevity in an ever-evolving sport – not just technical skills and fitness, but also the importance of staying focused and disciplined in success, humble.”
U19 World Cup: India Vs
India have enjoyed a dominant run in the U19 World Cup so far, winning all the matches convincingly. One of their most emphatic performances came against Zimbabwe, whom they beat by a massive margin of 204 runs.
However, Pakistan presents a familiar challenge. The neighbors beat India in the U-19 Asia Cup final on 21 December 2025, with batsman Sameer Minhas playing in Pakistan’s impressive total of 347/8 before India made 156.
However, this defeat remains a rare one for the Indian side who earlier defeated Pakistan in the group stage of the same tournament. Unlike the often-charged matches at senior level, the encounters between the U19 teams remained largely cordial, with the two teams even exchanging hands after the Asian Cup final.
But Sunday’s World Cup clash promises another intense chapter in a rivalry that rarely lacks an edge, even at junior level.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
January 31, 2026
