IND vs BAN, ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026: India defeated Bangladesh by 18 runs in match 7 of the ongoing ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 at the Queen Sports Club in Bulawayo on Saturday. The rain-hit match turned out to be a thrilling contest as India bowled Bangladesh out for 146 runs in 28.3 overs. Multiple rain interruptions forced the officials to reduce the second innings to 29 overs, and Bangladesh were given a revised target of 165 runs.
Vihaan Malhotra produced an outstanding effort with the ball and wrapped things up by taking an incredible catch on the boundary line to dismiss Iqbal Hossain Emon off Henil Patel. Vihaan picked up four wickets for just 14 runs in his four overs and was adjudged the Player of the Match. Bangladesh's run chase was hit by a couple of rain interruptions, but they were well ahead as per the revised playing conditions after the resumption.
As soon as it looked like skipper Md Azizul Hakim Tamim and Kalam Siddiki Aleen would take Bangladesh home, India's bowlers came up with a special effort to bounce back in the game. The match was changing ends with every passing over, and Bangladesh let the game slip from their hands towards the end, unnecessarily giving away the wickets despite being ahead in the game. Vihaan picked up the crucial wickets and talked about the tactics of his team during that crucial phase. "It was a nerve-wracking match, at the end, we are on the winning side, which is good for us. The discussion during the rain break was positive, that we can do it from any situation, we were ready to play the match and were waiting for the umpires' update," Vihaan said at the post-match presentation.
"They needed boundaries in the end, and I backed my strength of bowling yorkers. I back my skill - I can bowl yorkers, and I can defend this score, just believe in God. Playing a game like this. We chose cricket to be in games like this, and being in one is a great opportunity," he added.
Earlier, India were bowled out for 238 runs in 48.4 overs. Abhigyan Kundu was the top run-getter for India with an 80-run knock, whereas Vaibhav Suryavanshi smashed 72 runs in just 67 balls on the back of six fours and three sixes. For Bangladesh, Al Fahad produced outstanding bowling figures of five for 38 runs in his 9.2 overs.