India Under-19s in South Africa (Saudi Arabia) 2025/26

The encounter between the India Under-19 cricket team and the South Africa Under-19 cricket team does not follow a permanent league structure or a single standing competition with a founding date. Instead, these sides meet sporadically through bilateral series or within ICC-sanctioned tournaments, primarily the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. The rivalry is governed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Cricket South Africa (CSA), representing a distinct form of international youth development without promotion or relegation.

Historical records indicate that the first Youth ODI series between the two nations took place during the South Africa U-19 tour of India in 1995/96. The first Youth Test match followed much later, played from January 11–13, 2008, at Chatsworth Stadium in Durban, where India secured victory by seven wickets. In One-Day Internationals, India holds a commanding lead, with 21 wins against South Africa’s six, alongside three matches abandoned or resulting in no result.

Notable encounters in major tournaments include the 2008 Final in Colombo, where India won by 12 runs, and the 2024 Semi-Final in Benoni, decided by two wickets. Bilateral history features a two-match Youth Test series in 2018/19, which India won 1-0, and a three-match ODI series in South Africa in December 2019, where India won two of the three games. The most recent completed engagement was the January 2026 tour of South Africa, where India Under-19 won all three ODIs. This framework relies entirely on selection by national boards for World Cup preparation rather than domestic league structures.