U19 World Cup 2026: 14-Year-Old Suryavanshi & Spin-King Malhotra Power India to Thrilling Win Over Bangladesh!
Summary: In a rain-curtailed thriller at Bulawayo, India U19 clinched an 18-run victory (DLS) against Bangladesh. The match witnessed history as 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest-ever World Cup half-centurion, while Vihaan Malhotra’s 4-wicket masterclass snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
The future of Indian cricket isn't just bright; it's record-breaking! On a dramatic Saturday at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, India U19 maintained their perfect start to the ICC Under 19 World Cup 2026 with a high-octane 18-run win over arch-rivals Bangladesh.
The Suryavanshi Show: A Star is Born
After being put into bat, India found themselves in early trouble at 14/2. However, the youngest player in the tournament, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, proved age is just a number. At 14 years and 296 days, he smashed a fearless 72 off 67 balls, becoming the youngest player in history to score a U19 World Cup fifty.
His aggressive intent was perfectly balanced by Abhigyan Kundu, who played a gritty knock of 80 (112). Together, they navigated through a hostile spell from Bangladesh’s Al Fahad, who finished with a career-best 5/38. India was eventually bowled out for 238 in 48.4 overs.
DLS Drama & The Vihaan Malhotra Storm
Heavy rain interrupted play during the break, and the target was revised via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method to 165 runs in 29 overs.
Bangladesh looked set for a famous win as captain Azizul Hakim Tamim (51) and Rifat Beg (37) took the score to 102/2. With 63 needed off 13 overs and 8 wickets in hand, the Tigers were favorites.
Enter Vihaan Malhotra. In a sensational spell of spin bowling, Malhotra tore through the middle order. Bangladesh collapsed spectacularly, losing their last 8 wickets for just 44 runs. Malhotra ended with figures of 4/14, earning him the Player of the Match award and sealing the game for India as Bangladesh folded for 146.
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| vihaan malhotra-player of the match |
Quick Stats: IND U19 vs BAN U19
| Player | Performance | Key Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Vaibhav Suryavanshi | 72 (67) | Youngest WC Fifty (14y 296d) |
| Abhigyan Kundu | 80 (112) | Top Scorer for India |
| Vihaan Malhotra | 4/14 (4.0) | Match-winning Spell |
| Al Fahad (BAN) | 5/38 (9.2) | Best Bowling of the Match |
Group A Standings: India Leads the Way to Super Sixes
With this victory, India has officially moved to the top of Group A with 4 points and a healthy NRR of +2.025, virtually securing their spot in the Super Six stage.
| Team | Played | Won | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India U19 (Q) | 2 | 2 | 4 | +2.025 |
| New Zealand U19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| Bangladesh U19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.621 |
Global Round-up: Sri Lanka's Historic Total
In Group C, Sri Lanka U19 dismantled Japan by 203 runs. The highlight was Viran Chamuditha, who bludgeoned 192 off 143 balls, setting the stage for one of the largest victories in the tournament's history.
Super Sunday Fixtures (Today)
The action continues today with three massive clashes:
New Zealand vs USA (Bulawayo) - Can USA bounce back?
England vs Zimbabwe (Harare) - The hosts face a massive test.
West Indies vs Afghanistan (Windhoek) - A battle for Group D supremacy.
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