In a thrilling U-19 World Cup clash against Bangladesh, India’s Vaibhav Sooryavanshi delivered an impressive innings, scoring 72 runs off 67 balls, featuring six boundaries and three sixes. Following his stellar performance, captain Ayush Mhatre praised his opening batsman for his maturity at the crease. Mhatre remarked, “(Sooryavanshi) demonstrated remarkable composure and played brilliantly. He showed patience when the team needed him to stick around.”
The pitch posed challenges, but Mhatre expressed admiration for the batting prowess displayed by both Sooryavanshi and Abhigyan Kundu. “The conditions were tricky with some stickiness in the wicket, and the ball was coming off slower, making it tough. However, the way (Abhigyan Kundu and Sooryavanshi) played, along with Kanishk Chouhan later in the innings, was commendable,” he added.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Abhigyan Kundu also played a pivotal role, scoring 80 runs off 112 balls, supported by four boundaries and three sixes. Together, Sooryavanshi and Kundu formed a vital 62-run partnership for the fourth wicket, setting a strong foundation, while Chouhan contributed a quick 28 runs off 26 balls to help finish the innings on a high note.
Mhatre couldn’t hide his appreciation for Kundu, referring to their win as a “fantastic victory.” He stated, “(Kundu) is in great form during this tournament, and it’s fantastic to see him scoring runs for us.” He concluded, “This victory was significant for us; we focus on our game and aren’t overthinking it, just playing our cricket.”
Thanks to their contributions, India posted a formidable total of 238 runs in 48.4 overs. The bowlers then restricted Bangladesh to just 146 runs in 28.3 overs, securing an 18-run victory via the DLS method.
Looking ahead, the “Boys in Blue” are set to face New Zealand on January 24 in Bulawayo.