Suryavanshi, Kundu 50s help India edge out Bangladesh in U19 World Cup thriller

India U19 overcome Bangladesh in U19 World Cup 2026 [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/x]

India Under-19 edged out their Bangladesh counterparts in a nail-biting finish to remain unbeaten and top the Group B points table of the 2026 ICC Under-19 World Cup. Blistering opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi and middle-order star Abhigyan Kundu hogged the limelight with crucial half-centuries on a difficult surface, before off-spinner Vihaan Malhotra cut through Bangladesh’s line-up in a rain-revised chase.

Here, we take a look at the entire highlights from the seventh match of the 2026 ICC Under-19 World Cup between India U19 and Bangladesh U19, as it panned out at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Saturday, January 17.

Al Fahad derails India after Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Kundu 50s

Getting invited to bat first by Bangladesh, India Under-19 lost opening batter and captain Ayush Mhatre for just six off 12 balls in the third over of the match to teenage fast bowler Al Fahad. The speedster also knocked over Indian number three Vedant Trivedi for a first-ball duck next up, before Vihaan Malhotra’s 24-ball struggling stay for seven runs was halted by Azizul Hakim.

Unfazed by repeated top-order setbacks, blistering opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi counterattacked with a swift 72-run knock from 67 balls. The teenage batting sensation smeared six cracking boundaries and three huge sixes in his scorching knock to storm India past the 100-run mark during his 62-run partnership with wicketkeeper-batter Abhigyan Kundu. While Vaibhav Suryavanshi was dismissed by Iqbal Hossain Emon to leave India hanging at 115-4, Kundu compiled 80 runs from 112 balls with four fours and three sixes to anchor the remainder of the innings.

Kanishk Chouhan chipped in with a handy 26-ball 28 with four boundaries, but the Indian lower-order failed to sustain Suryavanshi and Kundu’s momentum as the ‘Boys in Blue’ bundled out for just 238 in 48.4 overs. For Bangladesh, Al Fahad mopped up the Indian tail after his new-ball blitz to claim sensational figures of 5-38. His teammates Iqbal Hossain Emon and Azizul Hakim also picked up two wickets each to strengthen Bangladesh’s stance.

Vihaan Malhotra crashes Azizul Hakim’s resistance to lead Indian win

Amidst a couple of extensive rain delays in Bulawayo, the Bangladesh Under-19 team was tasked to chase down 165 runs from 29 overs in a rain-revised innings. Losing opening batter Zawad Abrar for just five in the first over to Deepesh Devendran (1-27), Rifat Beg punched out a sizzling run-a-ball 37 during his counterattacking 56-run partnership with captain Azizul Hakim.

The skipper led his team from the front as Bangladesh reached a commanding 106-2 at one stage. However, his dismissal at 51 from 72 balls was followed by a slew of Bangladeshi wickets, with Indian bowlers making a strong comeback to restrict their opponents to just 146 in 28.3 overs.

Kanishk Chouhan (1-22) picked up the huge wicket of Rifat Beg, and left-arm spinner Khilan Patel dismissed Azizul Hakim and Farid Hasan in successive overs to claim figures of 2-35. Vihaan Malhotra (4-14) decimated Bangladesh’s middle-order to tilt the tide back in India’s favor, and Henil Patel delivered the knockout blow as India Under-19 clinched a thrilling 18-run win (DLS method) to remain unbeaten this 2026 ICC U19 World Cup.