The Under-19 Asia Cup did not end well for the Indian team. The star-studded side, which had IPL players like Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre, reached the final unbeaten but lost the title clash against Pakistan by a huge 191-run margin. Once Pakistan posted a mammoth 347/8, riding on Sameer Minhas' 172 (113b, 17x4, 9x6), India needed a lion-hearted chase to clinch a ninth title in the tournament.
But the tall Pakistan pace troika - Ali Reza (4/42), Mohammad Sayyam (2/38) and Abdul Subhan (2/29) - hurried through the top order with consistent hard lengths as India folded for 156 in 26.2 overs. Suryavanshi, who began the tournament with a 171 against the UAE, scored 26, while Chennai Super Kings player Mhatre was out for 2.
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According to a report in Cricbuzz, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will review the Mhatre-led side's performance in the continental event after the loss to Pakistan in the final.
"The decision was taken at an online Apex Council meeting on Monday (December 22) evening, where members discussed the team's overall showing in the tournament and felt there was a need to seek explanations from the team management," the report stated.
While the team manager generally submits a report to BCCI after every tournament, this time, the BCCI is likely to "go beyond the usual review process" and hold discussions with head coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar and captain Mhatre.
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Heated exchange in the final match
The final match saw heated moments, with Mhatre and Suryavanshi engaging in a heated altercation with their Pakistani rivals. Whether player conduct will be part of the review is not yet known.
After the final loss against Pakistan, India skipper Mhatre said, "We were clear to bowl first; there were some inconsistencies in the line of the bowling. It was a simple plan to play the 50 overs. The boys really played well, and the tournament was good for us, and some players stood up.”
The current U-19 side is preparing for the Under-19 World Cup scheduled for January-February 2026.
