India's Under-19 team suffered early blows in their high-stakes Group A encounter against Pakistan at the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup 2025, with 14-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi dismissed cheaply for 5 and captain Ayush Mhatre falling for a brisk 38 off 25 balls on December 14 at the ICC Academy Ground. Pakistan captain Farhan Yousaf won the toss and elected to bowl in the rain-reduced 49-overs-per-side match, as both unbeaten sides vied for a strong position toward semifinal qualification.

India's innings began aggressively, led by Mhatre, who struck four boundaries and three sixes in a fiery knock before being dismissed in the 10th over. Suryavanshi, fresh off a sensational 171 against UAE in the opener, struggled against the moving ball and was caught and bowled by pacer Mohammad Sayyam, who claimed two quick wickets to jubilant celebrations from the Pakistan side.

Adding to the drama, batter Aaron George received a painful blow to the helmet from a sharp bouncer by Ali Raza, requiring on-field medical attention and a mandatory concussion check. George recovered to continue batting, nearing a half-century and partnering with Vedant Trivedi to steady the innings at 106/3 after 16 overs in a rebuilding effort. The match, delayed initially by rain, carried extra intensity as a classic youth rivalry fixture. India's explosive start to the tournament—highlighted by Suryavanshi's record-breaking innings—faced a stern test from Pakistan's disciplined bowling attack, which had earlier dismantled Malaysia.

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With conditions favouring bowlers early due to moisture, Pakistan aimed to restrict India to a chaseable total, while the young Indian middle order looked to accelerate on a typically batting-friendly Dubai surface. This crucial clash underscored the competitive balance in Group A, with the winner gaining a significant advantage in progressing to the knockouts amid the storied Indo-Pak cricketing narrative at the junior level.

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