ACC U-19 Asia Cup 2023, India vs Afghanistan Match Report: IND U-19 win by seven wickets

Indian junior cricket team's ACC U-19 Asia Cup 2023 campaign was off to a winning start as they defeated Afghanistan by seven wickets at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Friday (December 8). Arshin Kulkarni starred in the win with an all-round show.

Seamer Arshin Kulkarni took a 3/29 as Afghanistan were bowled out for just 173 runs after India captain Uday Saharan opted to field first. Raj Limbani hunted from the other end with a spell of 3/46 while left-arm pacer Naman Tiwari delivered a 2/30. Spinners Murugan Abhishek and Musheer Khan took a wicket each.

For Afghanistan, the only batter to score more than 30 runs was Jamshid Zadran, who top-scored for his team with a patient 43 off 75 deliveries, including four boundaries. He and Sohil Khan stitched up a 49-run stand for the second wicket.

Chasing the paltry total, Arshin Kulkarni would emerge as the star again as he helped his team recover from a 32/2 as Afghanistan put early pressure on the ball. With a 44-run third-wicket stand with captain Saharan, the opener got the Indians back on their feet. With an uninterrupted 98-run fourth-wicket stand with Musheer Khan, he sealed the deal for his side.

Kulkarni hit four boundaries during his unbeaten knock of 70 runs off 105 deliveries, while Musheer, who is the brother of Delhi Capitals batter Sarfaraz Khan, remained unbeaten on 48 runs off 53 deliveries and amassed three fours in his innings. Adarsh Singh was bowled out for 14 by Bashir Ahmed while off-spinner Wahidullah Zadran and seamer Khalel Ahmad also picked a wicket each for the Afghans.

India U19 Playing 11: Uday Saharan (c), Adarsh Singh, Arshin Kulkarni, Rudra Patel, Sachin Dhas, Aravelly Avanish (wk), Saumy Pandey, Murugan Abhishek, Raj Limbani, Naman Tiwari, Musheer Khan

Afghanistan U19 Playing 11:Jamshid Zadran, Wafiullah Tarakhil, Sohil Khan Zurmatai, Naseer Khan Maroofkhil (c), Bashir Ahmad, Wahidullah Zadran, Mohammad Younus Zadran, Numan Shah (wk), Rahimullah Zurmati, Khalel Ahmad, Akram Mohammadzai