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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued to impress on the global stage with a calm and composed innings under pressure as India beat Bangladesh by 16 runs to extend their unbeaten run at the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup and strengthen their hold on Group B.

Batting first, India posted a competitive 238 in 50 overs, with Sooryavanshi playing a pivotal role by scoring 72 off 67 deliveries. The 14-year-old once again displayed maturity beyond his age, expertly negotiating difficult conditions on a slow and sticky surface to anchor the innings when his team needed stability.

Speaking to the ICC, India captain Ayush Mhatre praised Sooryavanshi’s temperament and ability to combine patience with positive intent in a high-pressure situation.

“Sooryavanshi showed the maturity he has and batted brilliantly. The team needed him to stay at the crease, and he did exactly that,” Mhatre said. “The wicket was a bit sticky early on, and the ball was coming on slower, which made batting challenging.”

Sooryavanshi was well supported by Abhigyan Kundu, who top-scored with a measured 80 off 112 balls. The pair stitched together a crucial 62-run partnership for the fourth wicket, steadying India after early wickets. Kanishk Chouhan later injected momentum with a quick 28 off 26 balls to lift India to a strong total.

In response, Bangladesh’s chase was interrupted by rain, leading to a revised target of 165 from 29 overs under the DLS method. Despite a determined effort, Bangladesh were bowled out for 146 in 28.3 overs, falling short of the target.

Mhatre credited the collective team performance and highlighted Kundu’s consistency with the bat throughout the tournament.

“Kundu has been batting really well and is in great form, which is a big positive for us,” he said. “It was a terrific and important win for the team.”

With two victories from two matches, India will now enjoy a short break before facing New Zealand in their next Group B encounter on January 24 in Bulawayo.