Under-19 World Cup 2026: Sooryavanshi, Kundu, Malhotra help India pull off remarkable win against Bangladesh

India Under-19 and Bangladesh Under-19 locked horns in Match 7 of the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Saturday, January 17. Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bowl first. 

India had a poor start as Al Fahad was on fire, sending back the Indian captain Ayush Mhatre for 6(12) and number 3 Vedant Trivedi for a golden duck off successive deliveries in the third over. Vihaan Malhotra joined opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as India tried to come out of the early mess. Sooryavanshi decided to play in his usual manner and counterattacked. Meanwhile, the other left-hander Malhotra could not get going as the Patiala-born was dismissed for 7(24).

India were 53/3 after the 10th over and needed a partnership to gain an advantage. Wicketkeeper-batter Abhigyan Kundu joined the 14-year-old prodigy and the duo maintained a decent scoring rate. Sooryavanshi reached his half century in 30 balls soon as the left-hander had done the bulk of the scoring until now. The pair formed a crucial 62-run partnership before Sooryavanshi fell in the 27th over for a well-made 72(67).

Kundu was joined by another left-hander - Harvansh Pagalia - but the latter failed to get going. India found themselves at 119/5 in the 29th over with a lot resting on Kundu's shoulders now. Bowling all-rounder Kanishk Chouhan (28 off 26) provided good support to Kundu as the left-hander completed his fifty soon after. However, the 54-run partnership was broken by captain Azizul Hakim as India faced another moment of momentum loss.

There was a brief rain break towards the end of the innings and the match was reduced to a 49-over affair. Kundu (80 off 112), with help from the lower order, helped India put up a competitive total. The team was all out for 238 in the last over though, and for Bangladesh, Al Fahad was the best bowler finishing with a five-wicket haul (5/38).

Just like India, Bangladesh also suffered an early blow in the form of Zawad Abrar (5 off 3) in the first over. But, opener Rifat Baig and Hakim steadied the ship as Bangladesh crossed the 50-run mark without any further damage. India, in search of a wicket, finally found it as Baig fell for a run-a-ball 37 in the 12th over.

The new batter Kalam Siddiki joined his captain and Bangladesh were going well. But, rain put a pause on the proceedings at 90/2 in the 18th over. A considerable amount of time was lost due to the shower and wet outfield and the target was revised to 165 runs from 29 overs, meaning Bangladesh needed 75 runs from 70 balls with eight wickets in hand.

It looked Bangladesh's game after play resumed but India did not wish to go down without a fight. Malhotra, with his off-spin, put the Tigers under pressure. The 19-year-old broke the partnership and sent back Siddiki for 15(23). Two overs later, the off-spinner struck again to dismiss Sheikh Parvez Jibon for 7(9). 

Bangladesh seemed to panic as India found an opening. Slow left-armer Khilan Patel also struck to send back the skipper Hakim for 51(72). The Tigers now needed 39 runs off 28 balls with five wickets in hand, a game still very much in their grasp.

But, what happened next would give Bangladesh a sleepless night or two. The lower order failed to play sensibly and offered the Indians the advantage. Rizan Hossan (15 off 9) tried to take his team home, but did not succeed. Indian bowlers, on the back of Vihaan Malhotra's 4/14 pulled off a heist to win the game by 18 runs (DLS method).