Bulawayo, Jan 16 (.) India U19 will take on Bangladesh U19 in their second group stage match of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026 at the Queens Sports Club here on Saturday.
After an impressive start to the tournament, the boys in blue are favourites to continue their dominant run, with fans eagerly watching Henil Patel, whose extraordinary performance in the opening match has made headlines.
In their opening game against the USA, India U19 overcame rain-affected conditions to chase a revised target of 96 runs. While captain Ayush Mhatre and vice-captain Vaibhav Suryavanshi contributed moderately, it was wicketkeeper-batsman Abhigyan Kundu who shone, scoring a quick 42 off 41 balls to steer India to a 6-wicket victory.
However, the biggest talking point was 18-year-old Henil Patel, who dismantled the USA batting lineup, claiming 5 wickets for 16 runs in 7 overs, showcasing pace, accuracy, and composure far beyond his years. Cricket fans and experts have hailed it as one of the standout bowling performances in the tournament so far.
India’s squad, boasting multiple IPL-capped players, is widely seen as one of the strongest in the competition. Alongside Henil, bowlers like Deepesh Devendran and RS Ambrish have also impressed with disciplined spells, while the batting order promises aggressive intent under Mhatre’s captaincy.
On the other hand, Bangladesh U19 arrive with a contrasting story. The 2020 champions, who beat India U19 in that historic final, have had a shaky preparation for this tournament. They suffered a heavy semifinal defeat to Pakistan U19 in the U19 Asia Cup 2025, and two of their warm-up matches were abandoned due to rain.
Much of their campaign rests on Zawad Abrar, who scored 224 runs in four Asia Cup matches but has struggled with consistency. Captain Azizul Hakim and all-rounder Kalam Siddiki Aleen will need to step up if the Tigers hope to challenge India’s formidable side.
The Queens Sports Club pitch is batting-friendly, offering consistent bounce throughout the innings. Fast bowlers can extract some movement early, but spinners may come into play in the second half of the game. Cloud cover and a 55% chance of rain, with temperatures between 17°C and 22°C, could influence the match, especially for the team batting second.
In the last two encounters between the teams, both sides have claimed one win each. India U19’s last victory against Bangladesh in December 2024 at the ACC U19 Asia Cup was a comfortable 59-run win, highlighting the competitive edge of the boys in blue.
With India U19’s attacking batsmen and a potent bowling attack led by Henil, analysts predict a one-sided contest in favour of India. Bangladesh will need extraordinary performances from Zawad and key bowlers to challenge the record champions.
India are expected to win comfortably, keeping their campaign on track and sending a strong message to the rest of the competition.
. . ARN