India win toss, opt to field against Nepal in Under-19 Asia Cup opener in Muscat

The ACC Men's Under-19 Asia Cup 2026 has begun. It is the biggest junior tournament in Asian cricket. The India Under-19 team is starting its campaign against Nepal Under-19 on Friday (November 6).

The match is being played at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Muscat, Oman. It is scheduled to start at 10:30 am Indian time. The toss took place at 10:00 am. India won it and chose to field first.

Lakshya Raichandani leads the Indian side, with Yashvardhan Singh Chauhan as vice-captain. Bipin Sharma captains Nepal. India will try to secure a place in the semi-finals with a big win in this continental tournament.

India have a superb record in the history of the Asia Cup. The team has won the title eight times so far and is regarded as a contender this time too. The side led by Lakshya Raichandani is in the race for a record ninth title. Even so, India will have to guard against overconfidence, because Nepal under Bipin Sharma will try to pull off a surprise result right at the start.

India have been placed in Group A. Besides Nepal, it includes arch-rivals Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Under the rules, only the top two teams from each group will reach the semi-finals. Every match in the group is therefore important for a good net run rate and for keeping a place in the points table.

The match against Nepal will also give the Indian players a chance to adjust to conditions in Oman. Just two days later, on November 8, India will face Pakistan, a match counted among the biggest of the tournament.

Cricket fans are watching several young players. Aryavir Sehwag is a major attraction in India's batting. He recently played a blistering innings of 173 against Chandigarh in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy. His explosive batting and form could prove decisive for India.

Anvay Dravid will also be in the spotlight. In the domestic season of the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, he scored 358 runs in just five innings. Along with strengthening the middle order, captain Lakshya Raichandani and vice-captain Yashvardhan Singh Chauhan will also try to give the team balance.

Nepal, on the other hand, will depend heavily on captain Bipin Sharma. Besides him, batters such as Neeraj Kumar Yadav, Rohit Chand and Suryanshu Koirala could play an important role in building a big score.

Indian fans can watch the match live on television on Sony Sports Network channels. Those who want to watch on digital platforms can stream it live on the SonyLIV app and its official website.