Aaryavir Sehwag, son of former India opener Virender Sehwag, announced himself on the big stage with a magnificent 160 off 168 balls as India Under-19 beat the United Arab Emirates by 70 runs to reach the semi-finals of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2026.
Playing at Al Amerat in Oman on Tuesday, the 18-year-old opener carried India to 309 for 7 — the highest team total of the tournament — before the bowlers finished the job by dismissing UAE for 239 in 49.6 overs.
The innings was built, not gifted. Aaryavir took 14 balls to get off the mark and reached his fifty off 69 balls before accelerating sharply. He brought up his hundred off 131 balls in the 34th over, then smashed 60 off his last 37 deliveries, including two sixes and two fours in a single over. His knock contained 17 fours and seven sixes, and it was the biggest innings anyone has played in the tournament so far.
The defining partnership was worth 193 runs for the second wicket with VK Vineeth, who made a brisk 67 off 69 balls. Together, they took India from a watchful start to a position of total control, and by the time Aaryavir was caught at mid-wicket off Naseem Khan in the 45th over, the total was already beyond UAE’s reach.
In reply, UAE fought hard through Ahmed Khudadad, who top-scored with 74 off 74 balls, but the target was always too steep. Ishan Sood claimed four wickets for 37 runs as India closed out the win, with Aaryavir named Player of the Match.
The result matters beyond the scoreline. India had lost their earlier group game to Pakistan by three wickets, and this was a must-win in every sense. With two wins in the group stage, the Lakshya Raichandani-led side now march into the semi-finals, where they will face Afghanistan on Thursday, November 12.
Aaryavir’s tournament form has been the story of India’s campaign. He had already scored an unbeaten 72 against Nepal, and the 160 against UAE has made him the team’s standout batter heading into the knockouts. He told reporters after the match that he had promised his father he would get a big hundred — and he kept his word.
One caveat is worth noting: because UAE are an Associate side, the match does not carry official Youth ODI status, so the 160 sits outside the official U19 ODI record books. Inside this tournament, though, it is the innings of the competition so far — and the name Sehwag is once again making headlines in Indian cricket.
