When India and Pakistan step out for the Under-19 Asia Cup in Dubai on Friday, they will do so carrying the words of two men who shaped their nations’ greatest cricketing triumphs, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sarfaraz Ahmed.
For a new generation entering cricket’s most intense rivalry, inspiration is coming directly from those who have lived it at the highest level.
India’s Ayush Mhatre Carries Dhoni’s Message of Calm
India’s dynamic young batter Ayush Mhatre says he arrived in Dubai with Dhoni’s advice still ringing in his ears.
I’ve played alongside MS in this year’s IPL, and before coming here he advised me to stay cool on the field and not be aggressive.
Mhatre, 18, enjoyed a breakthrough season with Chennai Super Kings, smashing a brilliant 94 in one of his seven matches. Dhoni, he says, left him with a mantra.
MSD told me not to make decisions in an aggressive mode. Let aggression go in the first five minutes and be calm. I’ll follow that advice.
Pakistan Lean on Sarfaraz’s Winning Pedigree
Across the dressing-room divide, Pakistan’s players are drawing energy from Sarfaraz Ahmed, the only captain in the world to have won both an Under-19 World Cup (2006) and a Champions Trophy (2017). Sarfaraz is traveling with the squad as mentor, and making his presence felt.
Captain Farhan Yousuf calls Sarfaraz the team’s biggest inspiration.
Sarfaraz is our hero. He’s a Junior World Cup and Champions Trophy winner and has helped us during the preparatory camps.
“His experience will help us in the match against India because he has played so many games against them.”
Rivalry Renewed on the Biggest Stage
India and Pakistan have been drawn together in Group A, alongside the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. Group B features defending champions Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Nepal. India open their campaign against UAE, while Pakistan face Malaysia on Friday, but the fixture everyone is waiting for is the India vs Pakistan showdown on Sunday.
Young Stars Ready to Light Up the Tournament
India’s lineup features prodigious talents, none bigger than Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the 14-year-old left-hander who stunned the cricketing world earlier this year with a blistering 35-ball century for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. He also owns the record for the fastest Youth ODI hundred, a 52-ball masterclass against England.
Pakistan’s strength lies in their bowling, led by tall pacer Ali Raza, who gained praise from West Indies legend Ian Bishop at last year’s U-19 World Cup.
This rivalry has recent history too. Pakistan defeated India in last year’s Under-19 Asia Cup in Dubai, powered by opener Shahzaib Khan’s epic 159 featuring ten sixes. Pakistan later crashed out in the semifinal to Bangladesh, who went on to beat India in the final.
New Voices, Old Rivalry — and Legends in Their Corners
As both teams prepare for another chapter of a storied rivalry, they do so with champions guiding them, Dhoni’s calmness shaping India’s approach, Sarfaraz’s winning instincts molding Pakistan’s mindset.
On Friday, the future of the rivalry takes the field, inspired by the past.
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