Aaryavir Sehwag and Ishan Sood Star as India U19 Crush Nepal by 10 Wickets in Asia Cup Opener

AL AMERAT, Oman — India Under-19 launched their ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2026 campaign with ruthless authority on Thursday, steamrolling Nepal Under-19 by ten wickets at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 1). Led by a suffocating opening spell from Player of the Match Ishan Sood (3/18 in 10 overs) and clinical bowling from Arjun Rajput (3/8), India shot out Nepal for 128 before opening pair Aaryavir Sehwag (70* off 52 balls) and skipper Lakshya Rajesh Raichandani (53* off 63 balls) mowed down the target in a mere 19.1 overs.

The fixture also carried immense historical resonance for Indian cricket aficionados: opening the batting was Aaryavir Sehwag, son of legendary opener Virender Sehwag, while Anvay Dravid, son of former India captain and coach Rahul Dravid, kept wickets with distinction behind the stumps.

Match Summary & Key Metrics

Ishan Sood’s Opening Masterclass Rattles Nepal

India captain Lakshya Raichandani’s decision to insert Nepal on a fresh Al Amerat surface proved inspired from the outset. Left-arm seamer Ishan Sood bowled with surgical accuracy and probing seam movement, delivering four maidens in his 10-over allocation.

Sood broke through in the third over when Prashiddha Jaishi (1) edged to Arjun Rajput at slip. Two overs later, Suryanshu Koirala (5) fell to the exact same combination. When Sood had Nischal Chhetri (0 off 12) snapped up by Yashbardhan Chauhan, Nepal were tottering at 27/3 inside nine overs, with Sood registering the astonishing opening figures of 5-3-5-3.

Nepal opener Niraj Kumar Yadav battled valiantly for 20 (48 balls), but was trapped leg-before by Manal Chauhan at 51/4. Middle-order batsman Darsh Sonar (43 off 93 balls) and wicketkeeper Aashish Luhar (29 off 45 balls) launched a gritty 43-run partnership, momentarily steadying the ship to 94/4. However, spinner Yashveer Goud (2/25) broke the stand by having Luhar caught by Rajput.

Arjun Rajput Bowls Nepal Out for 128

The final phase of Nepal’s innings was swiftly terminated by all-rounder Arjun Rajput, who followed his three catches in the field with a lethal spell of reverse-swing bowling. Rajput ripped through the lower order, trapping Sachin Bhatt (6) lbw before rattling the stumps of Nitesh Patel (0) and Sushil Rawal (0) in quick succession.

Rajput finished with sensational figures of 3 for 8 in 5.3 overs as Nepal were bundled out for 128 in 42.3 overs.

"The form I had in domestic cricket—having just won the championship with Punjab—gave me high confidence. The wicket offered good assistance in the morning, and the plan was simply to hit the right spots and maintain pressure."

— Ishan Sood, Player of the Match

Vintage Echoes: Aaryavir Sehwag Unleashes Carnage

Chasing a modest 129, India’s opening pair made a mockery of the target with an exhibition of sparkling strokeplay that evoked memories of Indian cricket's golden era.

Seventeen-year-old Aaryavir Sehwag showcased his father’s unmistakable attacking DNA, repeatedly dancing down the track to dispatch Nepal’s seamers and spinners over the infield. Playing with fearless flair, Sehwag struck seven crisp boundaries and lofted four glorious sixes over the mid-wicket and long-off ropes.

At the other end, captain Lakshya Raichandani provided the perfect foil before accelerating effortlessly. Raichandani matched Sehwag stroke for stroke through the off-side, striking seven boundaries of his own to register a polished 53* off 63 balls.

Sehwag brought up his half-century off just 42 deliveries and sealed the match in style in the 20th over, lofting a boundary straight down the ground before punching a single to long-on to complete a comprehensive ten-wicket triumph in just 19.1 overs (115 balls).

Full Innings Scorecards

Nepal Under-19 Innings — 128 All Out (42.3 Overs)

India Under-19 Bowling

India Under-19 Innings — 129/0 (19.1 Overs)

Nepal Under-19 Bowling

Post-Match Captains' Reaction

"It was a good toss to win. There was movement early on and our bowlers exploited it really well. They were hitting really good lengths, hitting the right spot and keeping the pressure up. The wicket got better to bat on, and the way Aaryavir and I played was just our natural game."

— Lakshya Rajesh Raichandani, India U19 Captain

"As a batting unit, we didn't bat as well as we expected because the wicket was good to bat on. Our top order and lower order need to work more. Runs were there for the taking if you applied yourself. We need to come back stronger with our pace unit in the next match."

— Bipin Sharma, Nepal U19 Captain

Setting Up the High-Voltage India vs Pakistan Clash

With both India U19 and Pakistan U19 picking up massive bonus-point victories on the opening day, the stage is set for a mouth-watering blockbuster on Saturday, November 8, 2026. India sit atop Group A courtesy of their staggering +3.421 Net Run Rate, closely pursued by Pakistan's +1.644. Saturday’s clash in Al Amerat will likely decide the group winner and secure early semifinal qualification.