India U19 chased down a massive target of 338 runs on the final delivery.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia publicly defended India's U19 players for their fiery celebrations following a dramatic one-wicket victory over Pakistan in the 2026 Men's U19 Asia Cup final at Al Amerat Cricket Ground, Oman on Saturday (November 14).
Saikia stated that the aggressive celebrations reflected the team's character, confidence, and "never-say-die" attitude. He noted that when youngsters win a cliffhanger from a difficult position, their emotional reaction is natural and should be allowed.
"That reflects their character and fighting spirit. Consider how much of a cliffhanger today's match was. At one point, it really didn't look like it was in India's favour. Yet, India managed to win. This speaks volumes about the team's confidence level and their 'never-say-die' attitude," Saikia told ANI.
"When they win a match from such a difficult position, they certainly deserve to celebrate. That's something we must allow," he added.
Chasing a massive target of 338, India U19 started strongly thanks to 95-run opening stand between captain Lakshya Raichandani (80) and Aaryavir Sehwag (58). However, a middle-order collapse saw the team slip into deep trouble.
India looked down and out at 252/8, still needing 86 runs for victory. Amidst intense pressure, Manal Chauhan (47 off 32) and No. 10 batter Mohit Ulva (49* off 26 balls) revived the chase with a crucial 57-run stand.
Needing eight runs off the final over with one wicket in hand and three runs off the final ball, Ulva charged down the track against Ahmed Hussain and smashed a boundary over extra cover to seal the championship.
As soon as the winning shot was hit, the Indian players sprinted onto the pitch in jubilation. Some of the youngsters also broke into aggressive celebrations in front of their Pakistani counterparts, requiring the intervention of support staff members on several occasions.
Tensions between the two sides had built up earlier in the tournament during the group stage. After Pakistan won that earlier encounter, their players celebrated aggressively in front of the Indian side, prompting the Indian players to respond with animated gestures after turning the tables in the final.