IND U19 vs PAK U19 Live: Mohit takes new ball in Ishan Sood's absence
Hi and welcome to India Today's live coverage of the U19 Asia Cup final between India vs Pakistan in Al Amerat.
Looks like it is Mohit Ulva is the one who will be taking the new ball. The right-arm pacer is coming around the wicket and hoping to make it move away from the leftie. He has started off with some nice line and is indeed able to get some movement right off the bat.
IND vs PAK U19 Asia Cup Live Score: PAK 1/0 in 1 ov. Usman Khan (0*), Hayam Khan (0*)
The Boys in Blue come together for the huddle and the goal will be clear. They need to stay calm, not let the occasion get to them and play their natural game.
It will be interesting to see who gets the new ball as well considering Ishan Sood is out of the equation for this finale.
The national anthems are done, the players are out in the middle, and the stage is set for the big one! India and Pakistan are ready to battle it out for the U19 Asia Cup crown.
A new surface awaits India and Pakistan at the Oman Cricket Academy, and it looks quite different from the one used in the previous game.
The pitch has a dry, brownish tinge with a few green patches, suggesting the early assistance for pacers may not last as long.
Oh, that's not the toss update India would have wanted! Ishan Sood has been ruled out of this high-voltage final due to a niggle, with captain Lakshya Raichandani confirming the news at the toss.
That's a massive miss, considering Sood has been India's leading wicket-taker in the tournament, with 11 wickets in four matches at an average of 12.18.
Chigurupati Venkata comes in as his replacement.
With Pakistan opting to bat first, Hamza Zahoor will be one of the players in focus.
The wicketkeeper-batter was the difference between the two sides in the group-stage clash, scoring an unbeaten 100 off 108 balls, with 10 fours and three sixes.
He walked in with Pakistan reeling at 61/5 and stitched together a crucial 107-run stand with Hasnain Abbas Dar to turn the game around. Zahoor has already shown he can handle pressure against India, and the hosts will be desperate to keep him quiet this time.
Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first.
Interesting call from Pakistan. In the group-stage meeting, they bowled first and were quite effective, restricting India for large parts of the innings before Arjun Rajpuyr's century changed the complexion of the contest.
So, what has prompted the change in plans for the final? Are Pakistan backing themselves to put a big total on the board, or is there something about the conditions that has influenced the decision?
Keep an eye on these two. Aaryavir Sehwag has been India's batting standout, piling up 303 runs in four innings at an average of 101. His tournament has included a sensational 160 against the UAE, along with two half-centuries. The youngster has been setting the tone at the top, and India will hope he saves his best for the final.
At the other end, Ishan Sood has emerged as India's pace spearhead with 11 wickets in four matches at an average of 12.18. His best figures of 4/37 came against the UAE, while his ability to extract bounce and movement has made him a difficult proposition for opposition batters. If Aaryavir fires with the bat and Sood finds his rhythm with the ball, India will fancy their chances of bringing the trophy home.
Neither side has exactly limped into the final. India brushed aside Afghanistan by eight wickets, chasing down the target with 79 balls to spare.
Captain Lakshya Raichandani led from the front with 93, while VK Vineeth chipped in with an unbeaten 57. Pakistan were just as ruthless, beating Bangladesh by nine wickets after bowling them out for 138. Both teams are warmed up and ready!
There's a bit of history between these two sides already this tournament.
Pakistan beat India by three wickets in the group stage, pulling off a stunning chase after being reduced to 61/5. Hamza Zahoor's unbeaten century turned that game around. India will certainly remember that one, and what better way to respond than on the biggest day of the tournament?
And if the group-stage defeat wasn't enough motivation, India have another score to settle. Pakistan hammered India by 191 runs in last year's U19 Asia Cup final in Dubai, with Sameer Minhas smashing a sensational 172.
Well, you couldn't ask for a bigger occasion! India and Pakistan are ready to renew their rivalry, this time with the U19 Asia Cup trophy up for grabs.
If you have not grabbed your morning coffee yet, do so now because Lakshya Raichandani's boys have a chance to end India's three-edition title drought and make it a record-extending ninth crown.
Pakistan, meanwhile, arrive as defending champions. Let the youngsters take centre stage!
