Vihaan Malhotra Stars in India's 204-Run Win
In the thrilling Super Six opener of the Under-19 World Cup 2026, India emerged victorious against Zimbabwe by a whopping 204 runs, thanks to a stellar performance by Vihaan Malhotra. Struggling in his earlier matches, Malhotra finally found his form, scoring an unbeaten 109 runs that anchored the team’s innings. When India was at a precarious 101/3, he stepped up to deliver a knock that was both composed and impactful.
Malhotra came to bat in the 11th over and faced a challenging situation. Instead of rushing his game, he focused on building partnerships and rotating the strike. His strategy paid off as he earned runs without taking undue risks. He formed a crucial partnership with wicketkeeper-batter Abhigyan Kundu, who scored 61 runs. Their partnership not only stabilized the innings but also shifted the momentum firmly in India’s favour.
Kundu’s confident batting against spin complemented Malhotra’s technique well. They mixed caution with aggression, and their efforts led to India crossing the 200-run mark in the 29th over. Kundu reached his half-century with a well-timed pull shot, while Malhotra soon followed, bringing up his fifty with a boundary. The duo added 113 runs for the fifth wicket, effectively laying the foundation for a massive total.
Even after Kundu’s dismissal, Malhotra remained unfazed. He adeptly guided the lower order, picking his moments to attack while ensuring the scoreboard kept ticking. He celebrated his maiden World Cup century in the penultimate over, helping India to a formidable total of 352/8.
In response, Zimbabwe faced immediate pressure, losing their first wicket for a duck. Indian bowlers RS Ambrish and Henil Patel maintained relentless pressure, reducing Zimbabwe to 15/2 early on. Though a brief 69-run partnership provided some resistance, it wasn’t enough as Zimbabwe struggled to keep up with the required run rate.
Chiwaula’s 62 runs delayed the inevitable collapse of the Zimbabwean innings. As wickets tumbled, they fell from 142/4 to 148 all out. With captain Ayush Mhatre contributing with impressive bowling figures of 3/14, India sealed a decisive victory, reinforcing their strong position in the tournament.
