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Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – India’s Under-19 cricket team kicked off their ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup 2026 campaign with a commanding display, restricting the United States U19 to a precarious 36/4 after 12.4 overs in their Group B clash at Queens Sports Club.

Skipper Ayush Mhatre won the toss and opted to field first, a decision that paid immediate dividends as India’s pace attack exploited early conditions under overcast skies.

Bowling Brilliance Led by Henil Patel

Right-arm medium pacer Henil Patel stole the show with a devastating spell, claiming 3 wickets for 14 runs in his six overs, including a maiden.

The 18-year-old from Gujarat dismissed key USA batters with disciplined line and length, inducing edges and beating the bat consistently.

He removed opener Amrinder Gill early, followed by captain Utkarsh Srivastava (bowled for 0) and Arjun Mahesh (caught for 16), triggering a top-order collapse.

Patel’s fiery performance earned praise for his ability to “breathe fire” and generate movement off the seam.

Supporting the attack, off-spinner Deepesh Devendran picked up one wicket, while the bowlers maintained tight control with a run rate under 3.

USA’s Batting Woes

USA, featuring a squad largely comprising players of Indian origin – including captain Utkarsh Srivastava and wicket-keeper Arjun Mahesh – struggled against India’s disciplined bowling.

The innings began steadily but unraveled quickly after early breakthroughs.

Key Insights And Outlook

India’s decision to bowl first has proven masterful, highlighting the depth in their bowling unit featuring talents like Henil Patel and left-arm spinner Khilan Patel (yet to bowl).

The team’s balanced squad, led by Ayush Mhatre and including explosive batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi, looks well-equipped for a strong title challenge – India are five-time champions.

For the USA, this tough start underscores the gap against top sides, despite their historic qualification and diaspora talent.

A recovery will be crucial for their Super Six hopes in a group also featuring Bangladesh and New Zealand.

The match continues, with India firm favorites to secure a bonus-point victory and kickstart their campaign positively.