What Was the Match and Where Was It Played?
This game was Match 1 of Group B in the ICC Under‑19 Cricket World Cup 2026, played between the India Under‑19 cricket team and the USA Under‑19 cricket team on 15 January 2026 at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The fixture was rain‑affected and India secured a comfortable victory under the DLS method after bowling first.
Who Won the Toss and What Was the Decision?
India Under‑19 won the toss and elected to field first, a strategic choice in overcast conditions which helped them leverage their bowling strength early.
What Was the Final Result?
Here’s the match summary:
| Team | Innings | Score | Overs | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA Under‑19 | 1st | 107 all out | 35.2 overs | — |
| India Under‑19 | 2nd | 99/4 | 17.2 overs | India won by 6 wickets (DLS) |
Because of rain, India’s chase was shortened via the Duckworth‑Lewis‑Stern (DLS) method, adjusting the target to be achieved in fewer overs.
USA Under‑19 Innings (1st Innings)
USA U19 Batting Scorecard
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amrinder Gill | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14.28 |
| Sahil Garg | 16 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 57.14 |
| Arjun Mahesh (wk) | 16 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 55.17 |
| Utkarsh Srivastava (c) | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Adnit Jhamb | 18 | 41 | 1 | 0 | 43.90 |
| Amogh Reddy Arepally | 3 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 23.08 |
| Nitish Sudini | 36 | 52 | 4 | 0 | 69.23 |
| Adit Kappa | 5 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 26.32 |
| Sabrish Prasad | 7 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 41.18 |
| Rishabh Shimpi | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Ritvik Appidi | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| Extras | 5 | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 107 all out | 35.2 overs | — | — | — |
The USA U19 innings never got going. They lost wickets regularly and struggled to put together partnerships, ending with only 107 runs in 35.2 overs. Nitish Sudini provided some resistance with 36 runs, but it wasn’t enough on this day.
India Under‑19 Innings (2nd Innings – DLS Adjusted)
India U19 Batting Scorecard
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayush Mhatre (c) | 19 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Vaibhav Suryavanshi | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Vedant Trivedi | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
| Vihaan Malhotra | 18 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 105.88 |
| Abhigyan Kundu (wk) | 42* | 41 | 5 | 1 | 102.44 |
| Kanishk Chouhan | 10* | 14 | 0 | 0 | 71.43 |
| Extras | 6 | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 99/4 | 17.2 overs | — | — | — |
India Under‑19 successfully chased the revised target by 6 wickets, with Abhigyan Kundu anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 42 off 41 balls*, guiding the young Indian side home.
Bowling Highlights – USA vs India
India Under‑19 Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henil Patel | 7.0 | 16 | 5 | 2.29 |
| Ritvik Appidi | 5.0 | 24 | 2 | 4.80 |
| Rishabh Shimpi | 4.0 | 29 | 1 | 7.25 |
| Utkarsh Srivastava | 4.0 | 17 | 1 | 4.25 |
| Sabrish Prasad | 2.0 | 14 | 0 | 7.00 |
The standout with the ball was Henil Patel, who ran through the USA batting line‑up with an excellent 5/16 in seven overs — including a maiden — setting the tone early and giving India complete control.
Key Moments That Decided the Match
-
Henil Patel’s five‑wicket haul: He pitched India’s authority early by dismissing key USA batters cheaply and broke partnerships.
-
USA collapse: The Americans struggled to build momentum, getting bundled out for just 107 runs.
-
Steady chase by India: In a rain‑reduced chase, India only needed to negotiate the revised target, and they did so with smart batting when it mattered.
Player of the Match
Henil Patel (India Under‑19) was named Player of the Match for his brilliant bowling performance — a five‑wicket haul that ripped through the USA middle order, putting India in pole position from early on.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What was the margin of victory?
India Under‑19 won by 6 wickets (DLS method).
Who scored the top run for India?
Abhigyan Kundu was the top scorer in India’s chase with 42 off 41 balls*.
Who took the most wickets?
Henil Patel dominated with 5/16, the best bowling figures in the match.
Where was the match played?
The match was at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Historical Context
India Under‑19 and USA Under‑19 have met before in the ICC Under‑19 World Cup 2024, where India posted a huge total of 326/5 and then restricted USA to 125/8, winning by 201 runs under normal conditions. Arshin Kulkarni scored a fantastic century in that game, contributing to India’s dominant performance.
Final Thoughts
This India Under‑19 vs USA Under‑19 match in the 2026 World Cup showed the class and depth of the Indian youth team — with a superb bowling performance followed by a comfortable chase under the DLS method. The match was a great opener for India in Group B and set a strong tone for their tournament campaign, while the USA team will look to build more consistency for future youth world events.