KEY POINTS
- BCCI has launched a probe into India U-19’s shocking 191-run loss to Pakistan.
- Captain and coach will be personally questioned over team’s dramatic collapse.
- The review will also scrutinise players’ on-field conduct.
ISLAMABAD: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has initiated a formal review and sought explanations from the Indian U-19 team management following the side’s shocking 191-run defeat against arch-rivals Pakistan in the Asia Cup final in Dubai on Sunday, December 21.
A decision taken during the BCCI’s Apex Council meeting on Monday will see captain Ayush Mhatre and head coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar personally questioned over the performance.
Also Read: Pakistan Crush India by 191 Runs to Win U-19 Asia Cup 2025
The board has decided to go beyond the standard manager’s report to understand the reasons behind the dramatic collapse, especially after the team entered the final as overwhelming favourites following a dominant group stage, which included a 90-run win over the same opponents.
On-Field Conduct Also Under Scrutiny
The review is not limited to on-field strategy. The BCCI is also expected to examine allegations of unsportsmanlike behaviour by some Indian players during the high-pressure final.
Media reports suggest that captain Mhatre and batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi were involved in verbal exchanges with Pakistani players after their dismissals, adding an unwelcome layer to the heavy loss.
Also Read: PCB to Approach ICC Over India’s ‘Provocative Conduct’ in U-19 Asia Cup Final
The behaviour of captain Ayush Mhatre and young batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi is also in question.
Following their dismissals, Suryavanshi responded to Ali Raza’s send-off with a provocative shoe gesture, while Mhatre was seen on camera directing abuse at the Pakistani pacer.
With the ICC U-19 World Cup commencing in Zimbabwe on January 15, the timing of this review is critical.
The BCCI aims to identify and rectify key flaws exposed in the final, where Pakistan posted 347/8 and India folded for 156, to ensure the team is optimally prepared for its quest for a sixth world title.
