IND vs USA U19 World Cup 2026 (Source:@Surendra21286,x.com)
India will begin their ICC Under-19 Men’s World Cup 2026 campaign on Thursday against the USA at the Queen's Sports Club in Bulawayo. In a significant development, India won the toss and chose to bowl first.
Ayush Mhatre wins toss, IND choose to bowl first
TOSS UPDATE: India U19 won the toss and opted to field.
This opening game is expected to play a crucial role in setting the momentum for both teams. Led by Ayush Mhatre, India are placed in a competitive group that also includes Bangladesh and New Zealand.
As five-time champions, India enter the tournament as one of the favourites and will be aiming to lift the U19 World Cup trophy for a record sixth time.
All eyes on India as U-19 World Cup campaign begins
India's playing XI features explosive batters such as Vaibhav Suryavanshi and captain Ayush Mhatre at the top. In the middle-order players like Vedant Trivedi and Vihaan Malhotra will aim to provide stability.
Wicketkeeper-batter Abhigyan Kundu, along with all-rounders Udhav Mohan and Henil Patel, will add depth and flexibility to the lineup.
The USA, captained by Utkarsh Srivastava, will look to make a strong impression. Their playing XI features promising players such as Amrinder Gill, Nitish Sudini, Adit Kappa, Sahir Bhatia, and wicketkeeper-batter Arjun Mahesh.
While India starts as the favourites, the USA will be eager to challenge them and begin their campaign on a positive note.
IND vs USA U19 World Cup 2026: Playing XIs
India U19 Playing XI: Ayush Mhatre (c), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Vedant Trivedi, Vihaan Malhotra (vc), Abhigyan Kundu (wk), Harvansh Pangalia, RS Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Henil Patel, Deepesh Devendran, Khilan Patel
USA U19 Playing XI: Utkarsh Srivastava (c), Adnit Jhamb, Nitish Sudini, Arjun Mahesh (wk), Amrinder Gill, Sabrish Parsad, Adit Kappa, Amogh Arepally, Sahil Garg, Rishabh Shimpi, Ritvik Appidi
IND vs USA U19 World Cup 2026: Captains Thoughts
Ayush Mhatre (India U19 Captain): "We are going to bowl first. We are not used to these conditions. It is overcast and might help. The preparation has been good. The boys are confident and we are almost playing together since 6 months. We are going with 3 pacers, one allrounder and two spinners."
Utkarsh Srivastava (USA U19 Captain): “If we had won the toss, we would have batted first as well. Looking at the conditions, that felt like the right call. In terms of team composition, we’re going in with a balanced side - three spinners, three pacers, and the rest are batters. It gives us good flexibility depending on how the pitch plays.
Preparation for the tournament has been really good. We’ve had tours to South Africa and the West Indies, and we also arrived here early, which helped us settle in and adjust to the conditions. Overall, the preparation has been excellent.
We’re definitely excited about the tournament and the opportunities it brings. Our aim is clear - we’re looking forward to winning this cup.”
