India Under-19 Kicks Off World Cup with Dominant Win Over USA

The India Under-19 cricket team commenced their World Cup campaign with a convincing six-wicket victory over the USA Under-19 team in Bulawayo. After opting to bowl first, India restricted the USA to just 107 runs. Despite early setbacks in their chase, a solid partnership between Abhigyan Kundu and Vihaan Malhotra ensured a smooth path to victory. Kundu's unbeaten 42 runs and Henil Patel's remarkable five-wicket haul were key highlights of the match. This win sets a positive tone for India's journey in the tournament.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 15, 2026, 22:28 IST

India Under-19 Starts Strong in World Cup

The India Under-19 cricket team launched their World Cup journey with an impressive six-wicket victory against the USA Under-19 team in Bulawayo on Thursday. After winning the toss, India chose to bowl first, showcasing a disciplined bowling effort that led to the USA being bowled out for just 107 runs in 35.2 overs.

Early Challenges in India's Chase

While chasing a revised target of 96 runs, India faced early challenges. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was dismissed for a mere 2 runs, followed closely by Vedant Trivedi, who also scored 2 runs. Both wickets fell to Ritvik Appidi. Captain Ayush Mhatre contributed 19 runs before departing, leaving India struggling at 25/3 within just 5.2 overs.

Kundu's Steady Performance Secures Victory

Vihaan Malhotra and Abhigyan Kundu played a pivotal role in stabilizing the innings with a vital 45-run partnership. Malhotra scored 18 runs before getting out, but Kundu remained resolute. Alongside Kanishk Chouhan, they ensured a smooth finish, allowing India to reach their target in 17.2 overs.

Kundu finished the match unbeaten with 42 runs off 41 balls, including five boundaries and a six, while Chouhan contributed with an unbeaten 10. Ritvik Appidi was the standout bowler for the USA, achieving figures of 2/24 in five overs.

Henil Patel Shines with Five-Wicket Performance

Henil Patel emerged as the star bowler for India, delivering an outstanding performance with figures of 5/16 from seven overs. This achievement marks the third-best bowling performance for India in the U19 World Cup, following Kamal Passi's 6/23 against Zimbabwe in 2012 and Anukul Roy's 5/14 against Papua New Guinea in 2018.

USA's Innings Struggles

Nitish Sudini was the top scorer for the USA, managing 36 runs off 52 balls, but the innings struggled to build momentum due to a lack of significant partnerships.

India's bowlers effectively shared the responsibilities, with Deepesh Devendran taking 1/19, RS Ambrish 1/14, Khilan Patel 1/27, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi contributing with 1/2.

This comprehensive victory provided India with a confident start to their Under-19 World Cup campaign.