Dubai: In a highly anticipated Under-19 Asia Cup 2025 encounter, India faced their longtime rivals Pakistan at the ICC Academy in Dubai on December 14. After losing the toss, India was sent in to bat, opening with Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi. All eyes were on the 14-year-old Suryavanshi, who had impressed everyone with a blazing 171-run innings against the UAE in India’s tournament opener.
However, Suryavanshi was unable to replicate his previous heroics. The young star faced just six deliveries before being dismissed for five runs, offering a catch to bowler Mohammad Sayyam. His early exit set the tone for a challenging start for India, with the team reaching 29 runs when the first wicket fell.
Captain Ayush Mhatre also fell cheaply, scoring 38 runs off 25 balls, leaving India in a precarious position early in their innings. The early dismissals of the top order put the Men in Blue on the back foot against a disciplined Pakistan bowling attack.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s spectacular 171-run knock in India’s opening match against UAE had raised expectations. Coming in after Mhatre’s early dismissal, he dominated the bowling attack, scoring his 171 off just 95 deliveries and helping India post a massive 433 runs. India then bowled UAE out for 199, securing a 234-run victory in a dominating display.
While Suryavanshi’s previous innings showed his immense potential, his early departure against Pakistan highlighted the challenges young players face under pressure in high-stakes matches. India will now need contributions from the middle and lower order to stabilize their innings and post a competitive total against their archrivals.
