IND U19 vs AUS U19 1st Youth Test Highlights: Lakshya Raichandani 240, Chauhan Six-For Seal Crushing Innings Victory

A complete display across three days ensured India Under-19 opened the two-match red-ball series with an emphatic statement in Rajkot. Building on a mammoth 277-run first-innings lead set up by opener Lakshya Raichandani's sensational 240, the hosts broke through Australia Under-19's second-innings resistance on Day 3 at the Niranjan Shah Stadium. Despite an aggressive counter-attacking century from Australian batter Blake Cattle, Indian captain Yashbardhan Chauhan ripped through the lineup with 6 for 75 to bowl the visitors out for 229 and seal an innings and 48-run victory.

DailyCricInfo delivers the complete, verified scorecard breakdown, turning points, and tactical analysis from the opening Youth Test.

Raichandani's 240 and Ulva's 92 Power India U19 to 494

Resuming Day 3 on 430 for 8, India Under-19 looked to stretch their lead beyond Australia's reach.

Overnight double-centurion Lakshya Raichandani continued to punish loose deliveries, extending his score to 240 off 281 deliveries, laced with 24 boundaries and four sixes. Theo Tsingos eventually ended Raichandani's marathon knock, having him caught by Eli Brain.

At the other end, all-rounder Mohit Ulva carried his overnight momentum into the morning, racing to 92 off just 84 deliveries with clean striking. Ulva's dismissal wrapped up the Indian first innings at 494 all out in 102.3 overs, handing the hosts a massive first-innings lead of 277 runs.

Kasey Barton remained the most successful Australian bowler with 3 for 83 in 18 overs, while Spencer Green and Connor Gregory claimed two wickets apiece.

Cattle Fights Lone Battle with 114-Ball 123

Tasked with wiping out a 277-run deficit to make India bat again, Australia Under-19 suffered early blows against India's opening seamers.

Pacer Ishan Om produced immediate breakthroughs, trapping Hayden Barbulovic leg-before for 7. Opener Neel Patel showed grit, hitting six boundaries in a 78-ball 41 to stabilize the top order before falling to Yashbardhan Chauhan.

Australia's primary resistance came from Blake Cattle, who completed an extraordinary individual double by following his first-innings 102 with a blistering second-innings century.

Attacking the bowling with aggressive sweeps and lofted drives, Cattle counter-attacked to compile 123 off just 114 deliveries, striking 16 boundaries and three sixes. Cattle added crucial runs with Connor Gregory (36 off 88 balls) to momentarily delay the inevitable.

Chauhan and Ishan Om Wrap Up Comprehensive Innings Win

Once Cattle fell to Ishan Om in the 58th over with the score at 218 for 8, the lower order surrendered quickly to Indian spin.

Skipper Yashbardhan Chauhan ran through Australia's batting lineup, extracting turn and variable bounce from the Rajkot surface. Operating in tandem with Ishan Om (4 for 62 in 18 overs), Chauhan trapped the middle order in front and finished off the tail.

Chauhan took the final wicket of Gregory in the 60th over, caught by Raichandani, to register figures of 6 for 75 in 19.4 overs. Australia Under-19 were bowled out for 229 in 59.4 overs, falling short by 48 runs.

Lakshya Raichandani earned the plaudits for his defining 240, while Blake Cattle's twin centuries marked an outstanding individual performance in a losing cause.

With a 1-0 series lead secured, India Under-19 head into the second and final Youth Test in Rajkot with their sights set on a 2-0 red-ball series sweep.

For verified live scorecards, session reports, and player spotlights throughout the Australia Under-19 tour of India, stay tuned to DailyCricInfo.