Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – In the opening match of the U19 World Cup 2026, India U19, captained by Ayush Mhatre, won the toss and elected to field first against the USA U19 at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The decision was influenced by the overcast conditions and the anticipation of potential rain later in the day.
Mhatre, a right-handed batter who represents Mumbai in domestic cricket and Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, is considered a bright prospect. He shot to prominence after scoring 181 against Nagaland in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and 176 against Maharashtra in the Ranji Trophy.
India, the most successful team in U19 World Cup history with five titles (2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, and 2022), are looking to extend their dominance in this edition. The team is considered strong contenders, boasting a well-rounded squad with depth in both batting and bowling.
The U19 World Cup 2026 features 16 teams divided into four groups. The top three teams from each group will advance to the Super Six stage. In the Super Six stage, teams will be further divided into two groups, and the top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals. The final is scheduled to be held in Harare on February 6.
India is placed in Group B alongside New Zealand, USA, and Bangladesh. Following their opening match against the USA, India will face Bangladesh on January 17 and New Zealand on January 24, both at the Queens Sports Club.
The Indian squad includes promising talents like Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 14-year-old batting prodigy, and Vihaan Malhotra, the vice-captain. Other players to watch out for include Aaron George and Vedant Trivedi. The team also has Abhigyan Kundu and Harvansh Singh as wicket-keeper options, and a varied bowling attack featuring R.S. Ambrish, Henil Patel, Kishan Kumar Singh, Udhav Mohan, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan Patel, and Mohamed Enaan.
Queens Sports Club, established in the 1890s, is a multi-purpose stadium and one of the two main cricket grounds in Bulawayo. With a capacity of approximately 9,000, it is the home ground for the Matabeleland Tuskers. The ground became Zimbabwe's third Test venue in 1994.
The USA U19 team, led by Utkarsh Srivastava, aims to make a mark against a strong Indian side. Their squad includes players like Adnit Jhamb, Nitish Sudini, Arjun Mahesh, Sahil Garg, Amrinder Gill, and Rishabh Shimpi.
Live telecast of the U19 World Cup 2026 will be available on Star Sports Network in India, with live streaming on the JioHotstar app and website.
