14-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi opened the innings for Ayush Mhatre-led Team India in their first match of the ICC U19 World Cup 2026 against the United States of America on Thursday (January 15) but
could only manage to score 2 runs from 4 balls in the 108-run chase. He was bowled by Ritvik Appidi on the second ball of the third over of India’s innings at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
Indian fans and team management had high hopes from the left-handed batter from Samastipur in Bihar, but he looked clueless against the USA side.
He opened his account by running two on the last ball of the first over of India’s innings bowled by Ritvik Appidi, but on the second ball of his second over, in an attempt to play a big shot, Vaibhav lost his wicket.
Ritvik breached his defence and shattered his stumps.
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Even though Vaibhav failed to make any significant contribution with the bat for the Boys in Blue, he did make his presence felt in the game by taking a wicket on the third ball of his first over.
Vaibhav, who represents Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, was given the responsibility to bowl the 36th over of USA’s innings, and on the second ball itself, he picked up set batter Nitish Sudini’s wicket.
Nitish Sudini was caught by Khilan Patel after scoring 36 runs from 52 balls. During his stay at the crease, he slammed four fours as a No. 7 batter.
Nitish added 30 runs from 53 balls for the sixth wicket with Adnit Jhamb (18 runs from 41 balls) and 25 runs from 32 balls for the eighth wicket with Sabrish Prasad (7 runs from 17 balls) to help USA post a total of 107/10 in 35.2 overs.
The wicket of Nitish helped Vaibhav become the youngest Indian to take a wicket in an U19 World Cup match. Vaibhav’s age as of today is 14 years and 294 days.
For India, Henil Patel picked up 5 wickets for 16 runs in seven overs, and one USA batter each was sent back to the pavilion by Deepesh Devendran, RS Ambrish and Khilan Patel.
