Bangladesh’s Under-19 side suffered an 18-run defeat to India in a rain-affected opening match of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026 at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. Despite a promising start with both bat and ball, the young Tigers were unable to adjust to the revised target under the Duckworth-Lewis method.
Bangladesh’s stand-in captain Zawad Abrar won the toss and opted to field. India batted first, scoring 238 all out in 48.4 overs in the rain-interrupted match. The top scorer was Abhigyan Kundu, who made 80 off 112 balls, including four fours and two sixes. Vaibhav Suryabanshi contributed 72 from 67 deliveries, while Kanisk Chauhan added 28. No other Indian batter reached double figures.
Bangladesh’s pacer Al Fahad impressed with four wickets, supported by Iqbal Hossain Emon and Azizul Hakim Tamim, who took two apiece. Sheikh Parvez Jibon claimed the remaining wicket.
Chasing a revised target of 165 in 29 overs, Bangladesh began poorly. Zawad Abrar was dismissed for 5 in the first over. A 56-run partnership between Rifat Beg (37) and captain Azizul Hakim Tamim (51) stabilised the innings, but further wickets fell at regular intervals. Kalam Siddiki Elin scored 15, while Rizwan Hossain made 15, and other batters struggled under pressure. Bangladesh were bowled out for 146 in 28.3 overs, handing India a narrow victory by 18 runs.
Rain had twice interrupted the innings, reducing the overs and increasing the scoring pressure for Bangladesh. India’s Bihan Malhotra finished with 4 for 12, Khilan Patel took 2 wickets, and Dipesh Devendra and Kanisk Chauhan claimed one wicket each.
