The ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026 officially began on January 15, with matches hosted across Zimbabwe and Namibia, setting the stage for an exciting tournament featuring 16 teams. On the opening day, five-time champions India kicked off their campaign strongly, securing a comprehensive six-wicket victory over USA. India's triumph was highlighted by a stellar bowling performance from Henil Patel, who scalped five wickets, restricting USA to a low total. In their chase of a revised target of 108 runs, Abhigyan Kundu contributed significantly with an unbeaten 42 runs, ensuring India reached their target comfortably. Meanwhile, West Indies also started their journey in the tournament with a noteworthy five-wicket win against Tanzania. After winning the toss and electing to bowl first, the Windies' bowling attack, led by Vitel Lawes, successfully limited Tanzania to a chaseable score of 121 runs. Tanez Francis emerged as the star with the bat for West Indies, playing a crucial half-century knock that guided his team to victory. Unfortunately, the highly anticipated match between co-hosts Zimbabwe and Scotland was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to adverse weather conditions. The tournament is scheduled to run until February 6, with teams vying for the prestigious U19 World Cup title.