India U19 start with comfortable win in rain-affected IND U-19 vs USA U-19 ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2026

The record five-time champions India U19 started the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2026 journey with a comfortable win despite a little hiccup in the low chase during the rain-interrupted tournament opener against the United States U19.

After India U19 sent the USA U19 to bat first, the USA scored 107 all out in 35.2 overs. In reply, when India were 21/1 in four overs, the match was interrupted by rain. When the game restarted, the Indian team got the revised target of 96 in 37 overs. India U19 chased down the target in 17.2 overs after losing four wickets.  

Henil Patel led Indian bowling attack

The right-arm pacer Henil Patel took the first wicket of the tournament, as the 18-year-old claimed a fifer to record India's third-best bowling figures in the tournament history by finishing with the bowling figures of 7-1-16-5. 

While only one USA batter managed to reach the 20-run mark, three more batters scored the double-digits in that innings. The middle-order batter Nitish Sudini scored 36 off 52 balls with four fours. 

Watch: Henil Patel takes first wicket of ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in IND U19 vs USA U19 match

Abhigyan Kundu 42 not out was enough for India U19 to chase target comfortably

In reply, the 14-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was played on for just two runs. After the rain, Vedant Trivedi (2) and captain Ayush Mhatre (19) were dismissed cheaply, as India U19 were in shock at 25/3. 

Vihaan Malhotra and Abhigyan Kundu had a crucial 45-run partnership for the fourth wicket. While Malhotra was dismissed for 18 runs, Kundu carried on his innings with Kanishk Chouhan to chase the tiny target before the completion of the 18th over. Kundu remained not out for 42 runs off 41 balls with five fours and one six.