India U19 begin their ICC U19 World Cup 2026 journey vs USA at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo on Jan 15. Check match timing, toss timing, where and how to watch live. (159 characters)
India, the most successful team in tournament history, will be eager to begin with a confident performance. (File Photo)
India’s Under‑19 cricket team will kick off its ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2026 campaign against the USA U19 team on Thursday, January 15, aiming to make a strong start in the title race. The match, hosted at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, marks India’s first game in a group that also includes Bangladesh and New Zealand.
India, the most successful team in tournament history, will be eager to begin with a confident performance.
The Group B match between India U19 and USA U19 is scheduled for Thursday, January 15, 2026. The first ball is expected to be bowled at 1:00 PM IST, offering an afternoon clash for fans in India and cricket lovers around the world.
The match will kick off after the toss, which is scheduled at 12:30 PM IST, giving teams a brief window to finalise strategy before play begins.
Cricket fans in India can catch all the action live on the Star Sports Network with full commentary and analysis. In addition, the game will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website, making it easy for viewers to watch on the go.
These broadcast details ensure that supporters won’t miss a moment of the opening match as India seeks to lay a strong foundation in its hunt for a record‑extending sixth U19 World Cup title.
India enters the tournament as one of the favourites, boasting a strong squad with a mix of batting firepower and bowling options. Ayush Mhatre leads the side as captain, while young talents such as Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Aaron George, and Vihaan Malhotra add depth and balance. These players are expected to play pivotal roles as India looks to dominate Group B.
In pre‑tournament action, India showed promising form in warm‑up matches, though they faced a narrow loss to England in one outing — giving the management useful insights to fine‑tune combinations before the opener.
The USA Under‑19 side, captained by Utkarsh Srivastava, will treat this match as a crucial exposure opportunity. While the American squad lacks extensive experience at this level, competing against India provides valuable experience and a chance to showcase their rising talents on the global stage.
India U19 is the most successful side in the history of the tournament and will be looking to extend its legacy by winning a sixth U19 World Cup title. After facing the USA, India is scheduled to take on Bangladesh and New Zealand in their remaining group matches, both tough tests that will shape their path into the Super Six stage of the competition.
With a combination of experienced youth and fresh talent, India will aim for consistency from the very first match, beginning with this showdown against the USA at Queens Sports Club.
India: Ayush Mhatre (c), R.S. Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, D. Deepesh, Mohamed Enaan, Aaron George, Abhigyan Kundu, Kishan Kumar Singh, Vihaan Malhotra, Udhav Mohan, Henil Patel, Khilan A. Patel, Harvansh Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Vedant Trivedi
USA: Utkarsh Srivastava (c), Adnit Jhamb, Shiv Shani, Nitish Sudini, Advaith Krishna, Sahir Bhatia, Arjun Mahesh, Amrinder Gill, Sabrish Prasad, Adit Kappa, Sahil Garg, Amogh Reddy Arepally, Ritvik Appidi, Rayaan Taj, Rishabh Shimpi.
