India's U-19 Team Starts World Cup Campaign with Solid Win Over USA
India's under-19 cricket team kicked off their World Cup journey with a convincing six-wicket victory against the United States. The match, held on January 15, 2026, saw India overcome a minor batting hiccup to chase down a revised target comfortably.
Henil Patel Shines with Ball, Earns Man of the Match
Medium pacer Henil Patel emerged as the standout performer for India. He displayed remarkable skill and composure, capturing five crucial wickets for just 16 runs. His bowling spell dismantled the USA batting lineup, restricting them to a modest total of 107 runs.
Patel received excellent support from fellow pacers Deepesh Devendran and RS Amrbish. Together, this seam trio conceded only 49 runs in 17 overs while claiming seven wickets between them.
Batting Stutter Before Kundu Steadies Ship
India's chase began smoothly but hit turbulence after a lengthy rain interruption. When play resumed, the target was adjusted to 96 runs via the DLS method.
The team suffered a quick collapse, losing captain Ayush Mhatre and Vedant Trivedi in rapid succession. This brought the score to 25 for 3, giving the American bowlers a glimmer of hope.
Enter Abhigyan Kundu, fresh from scoring a double century in the Asia Cup. The compact batsman immediately took control of the situation. He struck boundaries with confidence, including a beautiful cover drive off his third ball.
Kundu's composed innings of 42 not out guided India to victory. He finished the match in style, hitting a four and a six in the 18th over to seal the win.
Early Disappointment for Young Prodigy
The match brought disappointment for 14-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Touted as one of the tournament's brightest stars, he departed for just two runs after attempting an aggressive shot against medium pacer Ritwik Appidi.
His early dismissal disappointed the scattered crowd, but it didn't significantly impact India's overall performance.
Captain Reflects on Nerves and Fielding Pressure
Captain Ayush Mhatre admitted feeling nervous during his batting innings. He credited the USA team's athletic fielding for adding pressure during the chase. However, he considered the early batting collapse an aberration rather than a serious concern.
The victory highlighted India's balanced squad strength. While their batsmen receive much attention, the bowling unit proved equally capable and disciplined.
Brief Scores: USA 107 all out (Sudini 36, Henil Patel 5-16) lost to India 99 for 4 (Abhigyan Kundu 42*, Ritwik Appidi 2-24) by six wickets via DLS method.
