Source NDTV sport
BULAWAYO – India continued their dominant, unbeaten run in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 with a clinical 204-run demolition of hosts Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club on Tuesday. The victory was spearheaded by a masterful unbeaten century from vice-captain Vihaan Malhotra and a disciplined bowling performance led by skipper Ayush Mhatre.
Malhotra’s Masterclass Sets the Stage
After being put in to bat, India’s top order provided a blistering start. The 14-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi set the tone early, smashing a whirlwind 52 off just 30 balls. However, a brief middle-order wobble saw India slip to 101/3 in the 11th over.
It was then that Vihaan Malhotra took control. Malhotra played the anchor role to perfection, stitching together a vital 113-run partnership with wicketkeeper-batter Abhigyan Kundu (61 off 61). Malhotra reached his century in 104 balls and finished the innings unbeaten on 109 off 107 deliveries, featuring 7 boundaries. Late cameos from Khilan Patel (30 off 12) propelled India to a daunting 352/8 in their 50 overs.
“It’s a great feeling to contribute to the team’s win. Kundu and I planned to play deep while picking the right moments for boundaries. The pitch was excellent for batting,” said Player of the Match, Vihaan Malhotra.
Mhatre and Bowlers Stifle Zimbabwe
Chasing a mammoth 353, Zimbabwe never found their rhythm. RS Ambrish struck early, removing the openers to leave the hosts reeling at 24/3. While Leeroy Chiwaula offered some resistance with a fighting 62, he lacked support from the other end.
Once Chiwaula fell to Udhav Mohan, the Indian spinners and pacers tore through the tail. Skipper Ayush Mhatre turned the screw with his spin, claiming 3 for 22, while pacer Udhav Mohan also finished with three wickets. Zimbabwe was eventually bundled out for 148 in 37.4 overs.
Key Match Stats
Player Performance
Vihaan Malhotra 109* (107)
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 52 (30)
Abhigyan Kundu 61 (61)
Ayush Mhatre 3/22
Udhav Mohan 3/30
Looking Ahead
With this massive win, India has jumped to the top of the Super Six Group 2 points table, significantly boosting their Net Run Rate (NRR) and all but securing a spot in the semi-finals. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, has been eliminated from semi-final contention following this defeat.
India will now look forward to the high-stakes clash against Pakistan in their next fixture, where a win will solidify their top seed status.
