India Under-19 delivered a dominant start against Zimbabwe U19 in their Super Six match of the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, with teenage prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi producing a breathtaking batting display that thrilled the crowd.
After Zimbabwe captain Simbarashe Mudzengerere won the toss and chose to field, India’s openers came out with fearless intent. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, just 14 years old, immediately set the tone with fluent strokeplay, mixing elegant boundaries with towering sixes. His aggressive approach put the Zimbabwe bowlers under pressure from the very first overs, as India raced past the 50-run mark inside five overs.
Suryavanshi found solid support in captain Ayush Mhatre, who played the perfect supporting role, rotating the strike well and punishing loose deliveries. Their partnership kept the scoreboard ticking at a rapid pace, showcasing India’s attacking mindset in the Super Six stage of the tournament.
India did lose their first wicket when Aaron George was dismissed for 23 by Panashe Mazai, caught at mid-on, but the momentum never slowed. Suryavanshi continued his onslaught, smashing consecutive sixes and boundaries, quickly moving into the 40s and nearing a sensational half-century at a blistering strike rate.
At 91/1 in just 8.2 overs, India firmly established control over the contest, with Zimbabwe struggling to contain the run flow on a batting-friendly surface. The conditions in Bulawayo, with warm sunshine and a flat pitch, clearly favored the batters, and India made full use of it.
This match further highlighted India U19’s strong form in the tournament, following their impressive group-stage victories. With young stars like Suryavanshi and calm leadership from Mhatre, India once again looked like serious contenders for the U19 World Cup 2026 title, delivering a performance full of confidence, flair, and dominance.
