One of cricket’s most storied rivalries returns to the global stage this Sunday as India Under-19 prepare to face Pakistan Under-19 in a high-stakes ICC U19 World Cup 2026 Super Six encounter. With a place in the semi-finals on the line, the clash at the Queens Sports Club carries immense weight for both nations. India currently hold the upper hand in historical Youth One Day International (ODI) statistics, but Pakistan enter the contest with the confidence of having defeated their arch-rivals in the 2025 Asia Cup final. India Qualification Scenario for ICC U19 World Cup 2026 Semi-Final.

Historical Dominance and Recent Shifts

The head-to-head record between the two sides has historically favoured India. In 28 Youth ODI meetings, India have emerged victorious on 16 occasions, while Pakistan have claimed 11 wins. The rivalry has seen only one tied match and no "no-result" fixtures, reflecting the competitive and decisive nature of these encounters.

Despite India's overall lead, the momentum has shifted recently. In December 2025, Pakistan secured a dominant 191-run victory over India in the U19 Asia Cup final in Dubai. Sameer Minhas was the star of that match, scoring a record-breaking 172 runs. This recent result serves as a stark reminder that while India may have more silverware, Pakistan possess the firepower to dismantle the defending champions on their day.

India U19 vs Pakistan U19 Head-to-Head in Cricket

Category India U19 Pakistan U19
Total Matches Played 28 28
Wins 16 11
Tied Matches 1 1
Last Meeting (Dec 2025) Lost (by 191 runs) Won (by 191 runs)
U19 World Cup Titles 5 2
Top Scorer (Tournament) Vihaan Malhotra Sameer Minhas

Historical U19 World Cup Edge

While India boast more overall World Cup titles (five), Pakistan have frequently been their "Achilles' heel" in head-to-head World Cup fixtures. The most famous encounter remains the 2006 final in Colombo, where Pakistan defended a meager total of 109 by bowling India out for just 71.

Recent years have seen a shift in dominance; India secured a comprehensive 203-run victory in the 2018 semi-final and a 10-wicket thrashing in the 2020 semi-final. However, Pakistan's recent Asia Cup triumph in Dubai—where Sameer Minhas struck a massive 172—suggests the current crop of Pakistani youngsters may have the psychological edge. Pakistan Qualification Scenario for ICC U19 World Cup 2026 Semi-Final.

India U19 vs Pakistan U19 Head-to-Head in ICC Under-19 World Cup

Year Stage Venue Result Key Performer
1998 Super League Durban, SA India won by 5 wickets Mohammad Kaif (53*)
2002 Group Stage Lincoln, NZ Pakistan won by 2 wickets Salman Butt (85*)
2004 Semi-final Dhaka, BAN Pakistan won by 5 wickets Fawad Alam (43*)
2006 Final Colombo, SL Pakistan won by 38 runs Anwar Ali (5/35)
2010 Quarter-final Lincoln, NZ Pakistan won by 2 wickets Azeem Ghumman (C)
2012 Quarter-final Townsville, AUS India won by 1 wicket Baba Aparajith (51)
2014 Group Stage Dubai, UAE India won by 40 runs Sanju Samson (68)
2018 Semi-final Christchurch, NZ India won by 203 runs Shubman Gill (102*)
2020 Semi-final Potchefstroom, SA India won by 10 wickets Yashasvi Jaiswal (105*)

The India U19 vs Pakistan U19 ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 is expected to be a battle between India’s explosive batting and Pakistan’s disciplined pace attack. India will rely heavily on Sooryavanshi, whose aggressive strike rate has been a highlight of the tournament.

Pakistan will look to their captain, Farhan Yousaf, and the in-form Abdul Subhan, who recently took 4/11 against New Zealand. The historical psychological edge often plays a role in these fixtures, with both teams under intense pressure from fans back home to secure bragging rights alongside World Cup progression.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 30, 2026 12:12 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).