Cricket News / Who are Mohit Ulva and Manal Chauhan? India's two unlikely teenage heroes who broke Pakistani hearts
·46 mins ago·4 min read
Key Points
Eighteen-year-old Mohit Ulva remained unbeaten on 49 off just 26 deliveries and hit the winning boundary off the final delivery, while Manal Chauhan scored a crucial 47 off 32 balls, as India chased down Pakistan's 337/9 to finish at 339/9 and seal a sensational one-wicket victory in the Under-19 Asia Cup final in Muscat.
Muscat, Nov 14: Three runs were needed off the final delivery. India had lost nine wickets and Pakistan needed just one more breakthrough to clinch the Under-19 Asia Cup title. With the pressure at its peak, 18-year-old Mohit Ulva stepped down the track and smashed a boundary to seal a sensational one-wicket victory for India.
Ulva remained unbeaten on 49 off just 26 deliveries, while Manal Chauhan had earlier scored a crucial 47 off 32 balls to keep India's hopes alive. Their late partnership turned the tide in a final that appeared to be slipping away from the Indian team.
India finished at 339/9 in 50 overs, chasing Pakistan's 337/9. While the opening pair of captain Lakshya Rajesh Raichandani and Aaryavir Sehwag laid the foundation with scores of 80 and 58 respectively, it was the late-order resistance from Chauhan and Ulva that proved decisive.
But who are these two young cricketers who delivered when India needed them most?
Ulva remained unbeaten on 49 off just 26 deliveries, while Manal Chauhan had earlier scored a crucial 47 off 32 balls to keep India's hopes alive. Their late partnership turned the tide in a final that appeared to be slipping away from the Indian team.
India finished at 339/9 in 50 overs, chasing Pakistan's 337/9. While the opening pair of captain Lakshya Rajesh Raichandani and Aaryavir Sehwag laid the foundation with scores of 80 and 58 respectively, it was the late-order resistance from Chauhan and Ulva that proved decisive.
But who are these two young cricketers who delivered when India needed them most?
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Who is Mohit Ulva?
Born on November 30, 2007, Mohit Kumar Maheshbhai Ulva is an 18-year-old right-arm medium pacer from Gujarat. He progressed through Saurashtra's age-group cricket system before earning a place in the India Under-19 squad.
Ulva's cricketing journey began with tennis-ball cricket in his village. His father, who works with the Railway Protection Force (RPF), encouraged him to pursue formal cricket training at an academy.
He subsequently trained at Cricket Bungalow in Jamnagar under coach Mahendrasinh Chauhan, who also coached India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.
Interestingly, Ulva initially bowled off-spin. However, his coach advised him to try fast bowling, considering his height and ability to generate momentum during his run-up. He took up the challenge and gradually developed into a right-arm medium pacer.
Before his heroics in the final, Ulva had also caught attention during India's match against the UAE in the tournament. He struck a six off the final delivery of India's innings and subsequently claimed a wicket in the chase.
Against Pakistan, however, he produced the defining innings of his young career. Walking in during a difficult phase of the chase, Ulva struck five fours and three sixes to finish unbeaten on 49. His final boundary, off Ahmed Hussain, took India across the finish line and secured the title.
Born on November 30, 2007, Mohit Kumar Maheshbhai Ulva is an 18-year-old right-arm medium pacer from Gujarat. He progressed through Saurashtra's age-group cricket system before earning a place in the India Under-19 squad.
Ulva's cricketing journey began with tennis-ball cricket in his village. His father, who works with the Railway Protection Force (RPF), encouraged him to pursue formal cricket training at an academy.
He subsequently trained at Cricket Bungalow in Jamnagar under coach Mahendrasinh Chauhan, who also coached India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.
Interestingly, Ulva initially bowled off-spin. However, his coach advised him to try fast bowling, considering his height and ability to generate momentum during his run-up. He took up the challenge and gradually developed into a right-arm medium pacer.
Before his heroics in the final, Ulva had also caught attention during India's match against the UAE in the tournament. He struck a six off the final delivery of India's innings and subsequently claimed a wicket in the chase.
Against Pakistan, however, he produced the defining innings of his young career. Walking in during a difficult phase of the chase, Ulva struck five fours and three sixes to finish unbeaten on 49. His final boundary, off Ahmed Hussain, took India across the finish line and secured the title.
Who is Manal Chauhan?
Manal Chauhan, meanwhile, is an 18-year-old left-handed batting all-rounder from Morena in Madhya Pradesh. He bowls slow left-arm orthodox spin and has represented both Madhya Pradesh and India at the age-group level.
Chauhan came into the spotlight in July 2026 during India's Under-19 tour of Sri Lanka. Making his Youth Test debut, he scored a remarkable 150 off 244 deliveries in the second unofficial Test at Colombo.
His performances in domestic age-group cricket also helped him earn national recognition. According to his ICC player profile, Chauhan represented Madhya Pradesh in the Vijay Merchant Trophy, Vinoo Mankad Trophy and Cooch Behar Trophy, scoring 853 runs and taking 37 wickets during a standout season.
In the Asia Cup final, Chauhan once again demonstrated his ability to handle pressure. His 47 off 32 balls provided the crucial support during India's recovery. He was dismissed at 309/9, but by then the partnership with Ulva had brought India within touching distance of victory.
Also Read: India colts reign supreme, claim U19 Asia Cup beating Pakistan in final
How Ulva and Chauhan rescued India against Pakistan
India's chase began positively, with Raichandani scoring 80 and Sehwag adding 58. However, wickets began to fall regularly after the opening stand, and the team slipped into trouble.
The dismissal of Anvay Dravid at 217/6 left India with just four wickets in hand and a challenging task ahead. The situation became even more precarious when Aryan Savsani and Kavya Patel departed in quick succession, leaving India at 252/8.
That was when Ulva and Chauhan combined to revive the chase. Their 57-run stand for the ninth wicket took India to 309 before Chauhan was dismissed for 47.
Ulva refused to give up. With Chigurupati Venkata at the other end, he kept the chase alive through the final over. India needed eight runs from the last six deliveries, with Pakistan just one wicket away from victory.
After a tense sequence of singles and a wide, India needed three runs from the final ball. Ulva advanced down the track and struck Ahmed Hussain towards wide long-off. The ball crossed the boundary after one bounce, sparking celebrations in the Indian camp.
Manal Chauhan, meanwhile, is an 18-year-old left-handed batting all-rounder from Morena in Madhya Pradesh. He bowls slow left-arm orthodox spin and has represented both Madhya Pradesh and India at the age-group level.
Chauhan came into the spotlight in July 2026 during India's Under-19 tour of Sri Lanka. Making his Youth Test debut, he scored a remarkable 150 off 244 deliveries in the second unofficial Test at Colombo.
His performances in domestic age-group cricket also helped him earn national recognition. According to his ICC player profile, Chauhan represented Madhya Pradesh in the Vijay Merchant Trophy, Vinoo Mankad Trophy and Cooch Behar Trophy, scoring 853 runs and taking 37 wickets during a standout season.
In the Asia Cup final, Chauhan once again demonstrated his ability to handle pressure. His 47 off 32 balls provided the crucial support during India's recovery. He was dismissed at 309/9, but by then the partnership with Ulva had brought India within touching distance of victory.
Also Read: India colts reign supreme, claim U19 Asia Cup beating Pakistan in final
How Ulva and Chauhan rescued India against Pakistan
India's chase began positively, with Raichandani scoring 80 and Sehwag adding 58. However, wickets began to fall regularly after the opening stand, and the team slipped into trouble.
The dismissal of Anvay Dravid at 217/6 left India with just four wickets in hand and a challenging task ahead. The situation became even more precarious when Aryan Savsani and Kavya Patel departed in quick succession, leaving India at 252/8.
That was when Ulva and Chauhan combined to revive the chase. Their 57-run stand for the ninth wicket took India to 309 before Chauhan was dismissed for 47.
Ulva refused to give up. With Chigurupati Venkata at the other end, he kept the chase alive through the final over. India needed eight runs from the last six deliveries, with Pakistan just one wicket away from victory.
After a tense sequence of singles and a wide, India needed three runs from the final ball. Ulva advanced down the track and struck Ahmed Hussain towards wide long-off. The ball crossed the boundary after one bounce, sparking celebrations in the Indian camp.
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