Hi and welcome to India Today's live coverage of Afghanistan vs India in the U19 Asia Cup semi-final in Al Amerat.

Just when Subhan Zakhail was beginning to look settled, Yashbardhan Chauhan finds a way through him! A change in angle does the trick as Zakhail is bowled for 31 off 44 balls. The batter looks completely bewildered, standing with his hands on his hips, clearly disappointed after getting himself in. A timely breakthrough for India just as Afghanistan were beginning to build momentum.

Live score: AFG U19 (81/3 in 19.4 overs) vs IND U19 in semi-final. Noman Salarzai (15)

Well, that came out of nowhere! Noman Salarzai gets hold of a length ball from Mohit Ulva and launches it over wide long-on for the first six of the semi-final. The ball disappeared into the bushes for a moment, even prompting India captain Lakshya Raichandani to join the search party! A little unexpected entertainment in Al Amerat

Live score: AFG U19 (70/2 in 17.2 overs) vs IND U19 in semi-final. Subhan Zakhail (20), Noman Salarzai (12)

Time for a drinks break in Al Amerat! The Indian substitutes have made sure the players don't run on empty, bringing out a fresh batch of bananas along with the refreshments. A quick energy boost for the boys in the middle before we get back to the action.

Live score: AFG U19 (61/2 in 16 overs) vs IND U19 in semi-final. Subhan Zakhail (18), Noman Salarzai (5)

A much-needed boundary for Afghanistan! Subhan Zakhail skips down the track and nails a beautifully timed on-drive past the non-striker to collect four. Kavya Patel had kept things tight otherwise, conceding just five in the over. Afghanistan are rebuilding, but India still have the upper hand with two wickets down.

Live score: AFG U19 (60/2 in 15 overs) vs IND U19 in semi-final. Subhan Zakhail (18), Noman Salarzai (4)

A much-needed breakthrough for India! Faridullah Ihsas, who was struggling to find his rhythm, chops a short and wide delivery back onto his stumps after an inside edge. Kavya Patel gets his first wicket, and India have another opening to tighten the screws. The five wides earlier in the over were quickly forgotten!

Live score: AFG U19 (52/2 in 13 overs) vs IND U19 in semi-final. Subhan Zakhail (13), Noman Salarzai (1)

A productive over from Mohit Ulva, although Subhan Zakhail gets a slice of luck with an outside edge flying wide of the lone slip for four. Ulva continues to find movement, beating Faridullah Ihsas with one that nips away, while the batters manage a few singles. Afghanistan are rebuilding steadily, but India are still making them earn every run.

Live score: AFG U19 (45/1 in 12 overs) vs IND U19 in semi-final. Subhan Zakhail (12), Faridullah Ihsas (13)

Ishan Sood with another maiden, first in this match. The youngster keeps it tight as Afghanistan are finding it difficult to score freely.

Captain Lakshya Raichandani has brought in Mohit Ulva, a right-arm medium pacer, into the attack, replacing Kavya Patel. Can the young man keep it tight?

He is getting some away movement as Faridullah and Subhan are trying to keep the scoreboard moving again.

This is excellent bowling from the 17-year-old Punjab fast bowler. He used the crease wonderfully well and kept hitting the line outside the off-stump.

New batter Subhan Zakhail was beaten three times on the trot, before the right-handed batter cut one to find the boundary.

Subhan is heading into the semifinal after having hit a hundred against Sri Lanka in their final group-stage game.

India will be looking to take his wicket early.

Live Score: Afghanistan (35 for 1 in 9 overs) vs India in Oman in the semifinal.

The opening partnership is broken. Abidullah Nadarjan is the man out for Afghanistan. And our very own, Ishan Sood, strikes in the 7th over.

He switched to bowling from over the wicket and got the ball to slant away from the left-hander. Nadarjan was not able to resist the temptation. He went for a poke and the outside edge was safely pouched by wicketkeeper Anvay Dravid.

Ishan is pumped up.

Subhan Ali is the new batter for Afghanistan.

U19 Asia Cup Live Score: Afghanistan (29 for 1 in 7 overs) vs India in Oman.

Kavya Patel keeps the pressure on from the other end, finding some movement and beating Nadarjan's outside edge. A sharp stop at backward point also keeps the Afghan opener to a single, while Ihsas survives a loud LBW shout. India are making the openers work for every run!

Live score: AFG U19 (6/0 in 2 overs) vs IND U19 in semi-final. Abidullah Nadarjan (2), Faridullah Ihsas (2)

India are showing their attacking intent early, with two slips stationed for Ishan Sood. The tall right-arm pacer has made movement his biggest weapon in this tournament, repeatedly troubling batters by getting the ball to shape away and back in.

A slightly nervy opening over from Ishan Sood, who began with a front-foot no-ball and handed Afghanistan a free hit. He settled down after that, though, keeping the batters relatively quiet with his good-length deliveries and finding a hint of movement away from Faridullah Ihsas. Afghanistan managed just two singles off the remaining deliveries. A decent recovery from Sood, but India will want an early breakthrough.

Live score: AFG U19 (3/0 in 1 over) vs IND U19 in semi-final. Abidullah Nadarjan (1), Faridullah Ihsas (1)

And we're off in Al Amerat! Ishan Sood takes the new ball for India, but the first delivery doesn't quite go to plan.

A no-ball to kick things off, giving Afghanistan a free run before the first legal ball is even bowled. Not the ideal start for India, but Sood will be keen to settle into his rhythm quickly. The semi-final is officially underway!

India U19 Playing XI: Lakshya Rajesh Raichandani(c), Aaryavir Sehwag, VK Vineeth, Arjun Rajput, Yashbardhan Chauhan, Anvay Dravid(w), Manal Chauhan, Mohit Ulva, Aryan Savsani, Kavya Patel, Ishan Sood

Afghanistan U19 Playing XI: Abidullah Nadarjan, Faridullah Ihsas, Subhan Zakhail, Noman Salarzai(w), Shah Faisal Rahimi, Tahir Sarwary, Amir Hamza, Sohail Khan(c), Mohammad Ali, Bilal Salimankhil, Noor Ali Niazi

Afghanistan U19 have won the toss and elected to bat first in this semi-final.

They will look to put runs on the board and make India chase under pressure, while the Indian bowlers have an early opportunity to exploit any assistance on offer.

With a place in the final at stake, the powerplay could be particularly important. India will be keen to strike early, but Afghanistan's unbeaten run suggests they will not be easy to dislodge.

India hold the historical edge! These two sides have met 13 times in Youth ODIs, with India winning 11 matches and Afghanistan claiming just two.

Their most recent meeting was a thrilling U19 World Cup semi-final earlier this year, when India chased down a daunting 310-run target to seal a seven-wicket victory. Afghanistan will be keen to rewrite that script today, but the numbers certainly favour the young Indians!

While Aaryavir Sehwag has grabbed the headlines with the bat, Ishan Sood has quietly emerged as one of India's most exciting performers with the ball. The 17-year-old Punjab pacer has taken eight wickets in three matches, including a four-wicket haul against the UAE. But there is a fascinating story behind those numbers. Standing at 6ft 4in, Sood has largely been shaped by his father, Dheeraj, who even sold his garment showroom to devote himself to his son's cricketing journey.

Their approach to fast bowling was anything but conventional. For six to nine months, father and son worked on just one delivery, a good length aimed at the top of off-stump. They later spent another eight to nine months perfecting swing and seam movement from the same spot. YouTube, Google and even ChatGPT became part of their learning process, helping them study bowling techniques, fitness and nutrition. Quite the cricket classroom!

Aaryavir's 160 against the UAE was extraordinary, but India will need more than individual brilliance to get past Afghanistan.

Their defeat to Pakistan exposed some concerns in the batting department, particularly when the top order came under sustained pressure.

Arjun Rajput's century in that game was a reminder of the middle order's potential, while VK Vineeth also made a useful 67 against the UAE. India have the batting resources, but this is the stage where everyone needs to contribute. No passengers today!