Dominant India clash with promising Afghanistan in Under-19 World Cup semi-final

India and Afghanistan meet at the big stage, while a bigger one awaits. This Under-19 World Cup semi-final will be, first and foremost, an exhibition of a generation expected to step up to the senior sides and play international cricket. More eyes will also be on the team that goes through to the final to have a shot at being - youth cricket or not - World Cup winners.

Before the rest of the world tunes in, however, there will be an added incentive for both teams when they take the field in Harare on Wednesday. India, unbeaten at this World Cup, are also the most successful team in the tournament, having won it five times in the past. But their rotating door selection policy means Ayush Mhatre and the batch of players he leads to the field will have this be their one and only shot at reaching the final.

Afghanistan, on the other hand, have had their most dominant run in years at this World Cup, losing just one match to Sri Lanka along the way. They appeared and lost in the semi-finals of this tournament on two occasions in the past, in 2018 and 2022, and will be aiming to reach their first final from here. If they do so, it will also double as Afghanistan's maiden final appearance at a major global tournament at any level of the sport.

India WWWWW (last five games, most recent first)
Afghanistan WWWLW

India's batters have been underwhelming through the group stages and Super Sixes so far. Under the spotlight, though, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi might be primed for a return to form: he has scored just 196 runs in the tournament at an average of 39.20. Allrounder Vihaan Malhotra has been their sole centurion so far - bashing 109* against Zimbabwe - and he also scalped up 4 for 14 against Bangladesh with his right-arm offbreaks, which might come in handy on the Harare pitch.

On the other hand, Faisal Shinozada's prolific run at No. 3 has led him to be the second-highest run-scorer at the tournament, with 325 runs at 81.25, including a 163 against Ireland and two fifties. The pace of Nooristani Omarzai - with 12 wickets at 11.58, and a 4 for 16 against West Indies, his most impressive spell so far - will be crucial in deciding Afghanistan's fate.