The record five-time champions India U19 have started the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2026 strongly, as Henil Patel's dominant fifer destroyed the USA U19 batting line-up for only 107 runs in 35.2 overs.

Henil Patel took five wickets in ICC U19 Cricket World Cup opener

After India U19 captain Ayush Mhatre chose to field first, they bundled out the USA U19 team for only 107 runs. The right-arm pacer Henil Patel bowled incredibly, as he finished the innings with the bowling figures of 7-1-16-5. It was the third-best bowling figures by an Indian in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup history. 

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

Best bowling figures by India U19 bowlers in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup history

• Kamal Passi - 8.1-1-23-6 vs Zimbabwe U19 at Townsville in 2012
• Anukul Roy - 6.5-2-14-5 vs PNG U19 at Mount Maunganui in 2018
• Henil Patel - 7-1-16-5 vs USA U19 at Bulawayo in 2026

Henil produced the first wicket of the tournament when he dismissed the opener Amrinder Gill for only one run in the second over of the innings. He also took the wickets of Arjun Mahesh (16) and captain Utkarsh Srivastava (0), as he picked up three out of the opponents' first four wickets. 

While he bowled his seventh over during the 35th over of the innings, Henil finished the over with two back-to-back wickets in the final two balls. There, he got the wickets of Sabrish Prasad (7) and Rishabh Shimpi (0). 

While Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ended the USA innings in the next over by dismissing Nitish Sudini for 36 runs, Henil didn't get the opportunity to claim a hat-trick. Apart from Sooryavanshi, who bowled only two balls (1/2), Deepesh Devendran (1/19), RS Ambrish (1/14), and Khilan Patel (1/27) picked up one wicket each. 

Only four USA batters managed to reach double-digit scores, who were the opener Sahil Garg (16), the no.3 batter Arjun Mahesh (16), the no.5 batter Adnit Jhamb (18), and the no.7 batter Nitish Sudini (36).

The ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2026 started with the India U19 vs United States U19 match at Bulawayo on Thursday (January 15), where the Indian pacer Henil Patel claimed the first wicket of the tournament. 

Five-time champions India U19 chose to field first in the tournament opener. The USA started with a hope for a fine beginning in the tournament, but they had a big blow, as the consistent performer Amrinder Gill was dismissed in the second over for only one run.

See Also: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi needs few Runs to break Virat Kohli’s stellar record ahead of the U19 World Cup clash

ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2026: Henil Patel dismissed Amrinder Gill

On the third ball of the second over of the match, the right-arm pacer Henil Patel produced the first wicket of the tournament by dismissing Amrinder Gill. It was a good length ball around the fifth stump with extra bounce and a little away shape, as Gill had an outside edge. That edge traveled low to the second slip, as Vihaan Malhotra grabbed a good catch to produce that wicket. It was the first wicket of the tournament.

#TeamIndia’s fast bowler, Henil Patel, bags the opening wicket! 👏#USA’s Amrinder Gill gets done by the bounce and edges it straight to the fielder. ☝️#ICCMensU19WC | #INDvUSA 👉 LIVE NOW ➡️ https://t.co/RdmIHbr8CB pic.twitter.com/bJZA39yBRh

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 15, 2026

Australia are defending champions for ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2026

The record five-time champions India U19 featured in all five of the last U19 World Cups, including winning twice. Australia are the defending champions for the 2026 edition, which Zimbabwe and Namibia are jointly hosting. 

Even before the beginning of the 2026 tournament, some of the Indian U19 players have already come to the notice of Indian cricket fans, including the 14-year-old stunning boy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.