Pakistan defeated India by three wickets in their ACC Men's U19 Asia Cup 2026 Group A match at Al Amerat on Sunday, November 8. Chasing 209, Pakistan finished with three wickets in hand, led by Hamza Zaroor's 100 off 108 balls, despite Arjun Rajput's 107 off 85 balls for India.
Match Summary and Key Numbers
India were bowled out for 208 in 46.3 overs, leaving Pakistan a target of 209. Pakistan reached it with three wickets remaining, which gave the defending champions a second win in as many Group A games.
The match produced two centuries, but they came in different contexts. Rajput scored his runs at the top of the order, while Zaroor anchored the chase from number seven.
| Team | Score | Result |
|---|
| India | 208 all out (46.3 overs) | Lost by 3 wickets |
| Pakistan | 209 chasing (3 wickets in hand) | Won by 3 wickets |
India's Innings: Rajput Carries the Total
Rajput's 107 came off 85 balls with 11 fours and 5 sixes, a strike rate of roughly 125.9. That works out to 51.4 percent of India's total of 208.
Boundaries accounted for 74 of his 107 runs, about 69 percent. The rest of the batting order contributed 101 runs between them.
Top-Order Struggles
India's top four batters, among them captain Lakshya Raichandani, Aaryavir Sehwag, VK Vineeth and Yashbardhan Chauhan, scored a combined 42 runs. Sehwag's 22 was the largest share of that total.
That left Rajput to rebuild the innings. His two main partnerships added 108 runs between them.
| Partner | Partnership | Partner's Score |
|---|
| Anvay Dravid | 44 runs | Not specified |
| Manal Chauhan | 64 runs | 10 |
Lower-Order Collapse
Rajput was dismissed in the 36th over with India on 170 for 7. Yashveer Goud and Mohit Ulva followed, and the total stood at 195 for 9.
Kavya Prasad Patel added 23 and Ishan Sood remained unbeaten on 2. India lost their last three wickets for 38 runs after Rajput's exit, which kept the total below 210.
Pakistan's Bowling Display
Pakistan's attack shared the wickets evenly. Three bowlers took three wickets each, and Mohammad Sayam took the remaining one.
| Bowler | Wickets | Runs Conceded |
|---|
| Rizwanullah | 3 | 24 |
| Ali Raza | 3 | 37 |
| Niqab Shafiq | 3 | 42 |
| Mohammad Sayam | 1 | 27 |
Rizwanullah's 3 for 24 was the most economical return among the wicket-takers. The four listed bowlers took all 10 wickets while conceding 130 runs between them.
The Chase: Zaroor Anchors from Number Seven
Zaroor's 100 came off 108 balls, a strike rate of about 92.6. He made 47.8 percent of the 209 required, and he batted at number seven, a position that rarely produces a century.
His innings was slower than Rajput's but more controlled. Rajput's century was scored faster than Zaroor's, and Pakistan won because the chase was completed with wickets in hand.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Strike Rate |
|---|
| Arjun Rajput (India) | 107 | 85 | 125.9 |
| Hamza Zaroor (Pakistan) | 100 | 108 | 92.6 |
Group A Implications and Historical Context
India had beaten Nepal in their opening Group A match, so this is their first defeat of the tournament. Pakistan had earlier beaten the UAE. Group A also includes Nepal and the UAE.
What Comes Next
India face the United Arab Emirates in their next Group A match. They will need to win their remaining group games to secure a strong position in the standings.
Pakistan have now beaten India in consecutive editions of the tournament, following their 191-run win in the 2025 U19 Asia Cup final. The defending champions are captained by Farhan Yousaf.
Analytical Takeaway
India's total relied heavily on one batter, as 51.4 percent of the runs came from Rajput. Pakistan's chase drew on a number seven who scored 100 and a bowling attack that shared the wickets evenly.