India U19 will face New Zealand U19 in their final Group B match of the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026 at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, on January 24, 2026. Both teams have already qualified for the Super Six stage, but will be looking to top the group with a win.
India are unbeaten with two wins from two matches, while New Zealand have been frustrated by rain with both their previous matches washed out. This match is crucial for New Zealand, who desperately need a win or even a close match to improve their net run rate ahead of the Super Six stage.
This article provides a detailed Dream11 prediction, match details, head-to-head records, and key players for this U19 World Cup encounter.
IND U19 vs NZ U19 Match Preview
The Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo has been the venue for all of India’s group stage matches and will host this crucial Group B encounter between the tournament’s most successful team (India – 5 titles) and a relatively inexperienced but talented New Zealand side.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | India U19 vs New Zealand U19, 24th Match, Group B |
| Date | 24 January 2026 (Saturday) |
| Time | 9:30 AM Local Time (1:00 PM IST) |
| Venue | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe |
| Tournament | ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026 |
| Format | 50-over ODI |
| Broadcast | Star Sports Network (India), JioHotstar (Live Streaming) |
Tournament Context:
- 16th edition of the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup
- Co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia (Jan 15 – Feb 6, 2026)
- 16 teams, 41 matches across 5 venues
- Format: Group Stage → Super Six → Semi-finals → Final
- Australia are the defending champions (beat India in 2024 Final)
Squad Details
India U19 Squad: Ayush Mhatre (c), Vihaan Malhotra (vc), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Aaron George, Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), Harvansh Singh (wk), R.S. Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan A. Patel, Mohamed Enaan, Henil Patel, D. Deepesh, Kishan Kumar Singh, Udhav Mohan
New Zealand U19 Squad: Tom Jones (c), Marco Alpe, Hugo Bogue, Harry Burns, Mason Clarke, Jacob Cotter, Aryan Mann, Brandon Matzopoulos, Flynn Morey, Snehith Reddy, Callum Samson, Jaskaran Sandhu, Selwin Sanjay, Hunter Shore, Luke Harrison
Injury Updates
India U19: No major injury concerns
New Zealand U19: No major injury concerns
Pitch Report
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Venue | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe |
| Capacity | 13,000 |
| Pitch Type | Balanced – slightly favors bowlers |
| Average ODI Score | 249 runs (across 81 ODIs) |
| Surface | Good for batting initially, deteriorates as the game progresses |
| Pace Factor | Offers swing and seam early with the new ball |
| Spin Factor | Spinners are effective in the middle overs, turn increases |
| Boundary Lengths | Varying – straight boundary longer than the square |
| Toss Factor | Teams bowling first have a slight advantage |
The Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo is one of Zimbabwe’s oldest and most picturesque cricket venues. The pitch offers a balanced contest with something for both batters and bowlers. Fast bowlers get movement early, while spinners come into play as the match progresses due to variable bounce. The outfield is slow, so batters need to run hard for their bases.
In this U19 World Cup, the venue has seen scores ranging from 107 (USA vs India) to 253 (USA vs NZ – incomplete). The average first innings score in U19 World Cup matches here has been around 200-240.
Weather Report
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 20-28°C |
| Humidity | Moderate to High |
| Cloud Cover | Partly cloudy |
| Rain Chance | MODERATE – rain has affected multiple matches |
| Overall | Be prepared for potential interruptions |
Bulawayo has experienced significant rain during this tournament, with multiple matches affected, including both of New Zealand’s games. Players and fans will be hoping for a full 100-over contest.
Head-to-Head Record (U19 World Cup)
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Total U19 WC Meetings | 7 |
| India U19 Wins | 5 |
| New Zealand U19 Wins | 2 |
| India U19 Dominance | 71.4% |
Dream 11 Team for India vs New Zealand
Top Picks For The Match
| Player | Role | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Abhigyan Kundu (IND) | WK-Batter | 122 runs in 2 matches (42, 80).* Most consistent batter. MUST-HAVE. |
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (IND) | Batter | 72 (67) vs BAN. 14-year-old sensation. Explosive. IPL star. |
| Henil Patel (IND) | Bowler | 5/16 vs USA. First 5-fer of the tournament. Right-arm pace. |
| Vihaan Malhotra (IND) | All-rounder | 4/14 vs BAN (POTM). Handy with a bat. Key player. |
| Hugo Bogue (NZ) | Batter | 115 off 75 in warm-up vs ZIM. 17-year-old talent. Can destroy attacks. |
| Tom Jones (NZ) | Batter | Captain. Scored 119 on FC debut. Experience of the 2024 WC. |
| Snehith Reddy (NZ) | Batter | 147 vs Nepal in 2024 WC* – highest score of that tournament. Key. |
| Mason Clarke (NZ) | Bowler | 4/62 vs India in 2024 WC. Main pace threat. Can trouble Indian batters. |
| Khilan Patel (IND) | Bowler | 2/35 vs BAN. Good support bowler. |
| Ayush Mhatre (IND) | Batter | Captain. Needs runs after 19 & 6. Can be explosive. |
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