27 June, 2025 - India's Under-19 team announced their arrival on the England tour with a resounding 231-run victory over England Young Lions Invitational XI in a warm-up 50-over match at Loughborough on June 24. The emphatic win sends a strong message ahead of the official Youth ODI series starting June 27.

SCOREBOARD

Batting Brilliance

Batting first, India posted an imposing 442/9, spearheaded by:

  • Harvansh Pangalia, the truck driver’s son from Gujarat, who exploded with a blistering 103* off just 52 balls, hitting nine sixes in a dominant lower-order assault.
  • Notable support came from Rahul Kumar (73 off 60), Kanishk Chouhan (79 off 67), and R.S. Ambrish (72 off 47)—each contributing dynamic knocks that pushed the total into the high 400s.

Notably, IPL youngsters Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre underperformed, departing early for 17 and 1 respectively.

Bowling Performance

India’s bowlers ensured the reply from the Young Lions never gained momentum:

  • Deepesh Devendran grabbed 3/33, while Naman Pushpak and Vihaan Malhotra chipped in with 2 wickets apiece.
  • England were bundled out for 211 in just 41.1 overs, sealing a dominant win for India.

What It Means

This dominant victory sets the tone for the upcoming five-match Youth ODI series and two Youth Tests. India U-19, under the leadership of Ayush Mhatre—who even received a signed bat from senior skipper Rohit Sharma before the tour—looked cohesive and confident.

The Rising Stars

  • Harvansh Pangalia’s aggressive century stands out as a highlight of the tour so far.
  • The bowling unit, led by Deepesh, Pushpak, and Malhotra, displayed discipline and variety.

Expect India’s U-19 to carry this momentum into the official series, where England’s side, captained by Thomas Rew, awaits. India’s tour runs until July 23, ending with two Youth Tests after the ODIs.

Next Up

The opening Youth ODI starts June 27 at Hove. Cricket fans can watch the action unfold and see whether India can replicate this dominance in the official fixtures.