USA U19 bowler Ritvik Appidi created a moment that will last a lifetime when he dismissed Indian rising star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, but India otherwise controlled the majority of play beginning with a five-wicket haul from Henil Patel that helped send USA to defeat. 

Photo credit: ICC/Getty Images

By Peter Della Penna (Twitter/X @PeterDellaPenna)
 
On a rainy day in Bulawaya with no shortage of lighting causing further delays, it was USA U19 fast bowler Ritvik Appidi who brought the thunder by dismissing teenage IPL wunderkind Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the fourth over of India’s chase to provide the Americans a glimmer of hope. But a first innings total of 107 was never realistically going to be enough to defend and India proved so by the end of play, chasing down a DLS adjusted target of 96 in just 17.2 overs to record a six-wicket win over USA at Queens Sports Club on Thursday to kick off play in Group B at the 2026 ICC Men’s U19 World Cup. 
 
Appidi should have had a wicket on the first ball of India’s chase when India captain Ayush Mhatre cut a short ball straight to Amrinder Singh Gill at backward point, but a knee high chance was spilled. However, Sooryavanshi was challenged upon getting on strike, beaten on his first ball and nearly miscuing a catch to mid-off on his second ball before perishing two balls later to Appidi. The left-hander stalked down the wicket looking to smash Appidi over the top, but only managed to drag a length ball back onto his stumps. The sight and sound of timber falling backward sparked raucous celebrations from Appidi. 
 
But USA had to wait more than two hours before they’d take their next wicket, not due to Indian batting dominance but rather by a frustrating stoppage for a lightning warning that eventually turned into a genuine rain delay with the score at 21 for 1 in four overs. When play resumed, India’s target was reduced by 11 runs in a maximum of 37 overs. Appidi produced a wicket maiden upon his return to the field, building pressure with five dots before finishing the fifth over getting Vedant Trivedi cutting to Gill at backward point, who this time held onto a simple catch for 2 to make it 21 for 2. 
 
USA’s fielding unit nearly lost their minds when Mhatre fell two balls later. Gill was seemingly a magnet for the ball and atoned for his drop of the same player on the first ball of the chase by holding onto a top-edged hook at deep fine leg to complete a wicket for Rishabh Shimpi. Gill’s catch was a remarkable effort that saw him slip and fall on the rain-slicked outfield grass before calmly recovering to pouch a waist high take to dismiss Mhatra for 19 at 25 for 3. 
 
USA could have had Vihaan Malhotra for 12 at 60 for 3 in the 11^th, but a rushed relay throw by Sabrish Prasad on the off side ring dragged wicketkeeper Arjun Mahesh too far away from the stumps at the striker’s end with Malhotra several yards away. However, the chance only cost USA four runs in the end as Malhotra eventually succumbed to USA U19 captain Utkarsh Srivastava, prodding an offbreak that turned away just enough to clip the outside edge of the left-hander and carry low to Sahil Garg at slip for 16 to make it 70 for 4 in the 13^th. 
 
However, that was the last bit of joy on the day for USA as Abhigyan Kundu muscled his way to an unbeaten 42 off 41 balls, eventually hitting the winning runs with a sensational lofted drive for six into the sightscreen off left-arm spinner Adit Kappa as India reached the target with just under 20 overs to spare. Kanishk Chouhan ended on 10 not out off 14 balls alongside Kundu. 
 
Appidi ended the day with figures of 2 for 24 in five overs to lead the bowling unit. Left-arm pacer Shimpi took 1 for 29 off four overs. Srivastava returned a tidy 1 for 17 off four overs. Prasad conceded 0 for 14 off two overs of offspin while Kappa gave away 0 for 13 off 2.2 overs to round out USA’s bowling lineup. 
 
With rain almost guaranteed to arrive by noon time, India won the toss and sent USA in at the start of the day as they seeked to put a quick end to proceedings before any stoppages could occur. Backed by a five-wicket haul from new-ball pacer Henil Patel, India had USA under constant pressure that rarely relented.  
 
Henil kicked off his Player of the Match performance with the wicket of Gill in the second over of play for 1, getting him to fend away from his body at a length ball that was edged low to second slip. A 28-run partnership followed for USA, but it was subsequently followed by a collapse of 4 for 10 to put India in firm control at 39 for 5 after 16 overs. Fellow opening pacer Deepesh Devendran finally dislodged a stubborn Sahil Garg for 16, ending the ninth over by sending down a short and wide sucker ball that was slashed to deep third man. 
 
Henil proceeded to burrow away in the 12^th, getting an indecisive Srivastava to leave his bat dangling at a ball on the sixth stump channel to produce an inside edge onto the stumps for a five-ball duck. Arjun Mahesh went four balls later for 16, driving at a full length ball that resulted in a thick edge which sailed once more to the man at deep third. 
 
After Henil was given a breather following his new-ball spell, left-arm spinner Khilan Patel removed Amogh Arepally for 3 to complete USA’s early slide. Arepally pushed with hard hands at a length ball to send a gentle floating catch to short extra cover. 
 
Nitish Sudini joined Adnit Jhamb and the pair generated USA’s longest partnership of the day, adding 30 runs for the sixth wicket across 8.5 overs. The two were also the last ones to cross double-digits in USA’s lineup as the wicket of Jhamb, prodding at a ball in the fifth stump channel for an edge behind off RS Ambrish, marked the beginning of another slide for USA. Adit Kappa lasted 19 balls to make 5 before he ran himself out after hesitating on a push into the covers only to see Malhotra connect with a direct hit at the non-striker’s end while throwing from his knees to make it 80 for 7 in the 30^th.
 
Sudini continued to show spine as he repelled India’s bowling unit with four boundaries. The last of them was a superb sweep shot off Chouhan in the 34^th over as USA went into drinks with the score at 103 for 7. But any belief USA may have had that they could stretch the innings out for the full 50 overs was immediately squashed by Henil Patel when play resumed. Coming back into the attack for his second spell of the day, he removed Prasad and Shimpi off consecutive balls to end the 35^th. Prasad poked awkwardly to send an easy catch to backward point for 7 before Shimpi had his leg stump uprooted by a full delivery for a golden duck to complete Henil’s five-for. 
 
However, Henil never got to bowl his hat-trick ball that was due to come at the start of the 37^th over because Sooryavanshi dismissed Sudini two balls later for the final wicket and a top score in the USA innings of 36 off 52 balls. With only the No. 11 Appidi left to bat and seeing how his previous two partners got out, Sudini attacked a flighted delivery and picked out Khilan at long-off, who pulled off a superb catch diving forward. 
 
Aside from Henil’s 5 for 16 off seven overs, Ambrish returned 1 for 14 off six while opening pacer Devendran took 1 for 19 off six. Khilan took 1 for 27 off eight overs of spin while Chouhan conceded 0 for 25 off eight. Sooryavanshi’s brief appearance in the bowling unit ended with 1 for 2 off two balls. 
 
USA has two days off before returning to action on Sunday January 18 against New Zealand.