ICC U-19 Men's World Cup Kicks Off in Zimbabwe and Namibia

U-19 World Cup Launches in Zimbabwe and Namibia

The ICC U-19 Men's World Cup commenced on Thursday, with ICC chairman Jay Shah extending his best wishes to the participating teams. The tournament, co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia, is set to run from January 15 to February 6, 2026. In a post on X, Shah expressed, "Best of luck to all teams and players in the @ICC Under-19 Men's @cricketworldcup starting on January 15 in Zimbabwe and Namibia. Our youth events have historically paved the way for cricket's future stars, and I am confident this will continue."

India's Ambitious Start

The Indian Under-19 team is set to begin its quest for a record sixth title against the USA in Bulawayo on Thursday, led by captain Ayush Mhatre.

India's Strong Performance Leading Up to the Tournament

Prior to the World Cup, the Indian squad has achieved 16 victories in Youth ODIs, suffering only five defeats, resulting in an impressive win percentage exceeding 76. They boast the highest win-loss ratio at 3.2.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been a standout performer, amassing 973 runs in Youth ODIs with an average of 54.05, including three centuries and four fifties, with a top score of 171. His strike rate exceeds 164, making him a formidable opponent in the tournament.

India U19 has triumphed in five out of six series, highlighted by a clean sweep against Australia at home (3-0), a closely contested 3-2 victory over England in the UK, and another 3-0 series win against Australia, along with a 3-0 series win in South Africa.

Aiming for Redemption After Previous Setbacks

Despite their strong form, India's performance in the ACC Under-19 Asia Cups has been disappointing, having lost to Pakistan by 191 runs in last year's final and to Bangladesh Under-19 by 59 runs in 2024.

The Indian team also faced a setback in the U19 WC 2024 final, where they were defeated by Australia by 79 runs, thanks to a stellar bowling performance from Mahli Beardman (3/15), which limited India to 174 runs while chasing 254. India will be seeking revenge, while Australia, led by Oliver Peake, aims to equal India's title count with a fifth championship win.