New Delhi: India would be the team to beat at theUnder-19 World Cup when they begin campaign for a record-extending sixth title against USA on Thursday.

India have won in five of the past 16 editions of the tournament that started in 1988 and acted as a platform for multiple emerging talents to come into the limelight over the years.

Not only for India’s Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, it has been a springboard for excellence for top names from various countries including Joe Root, Steve Smith, Brian Lara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Graeme Smith, Michael Clarke, Hashim Amla, and Alastair Cook

India lost to Australia in the final in its previous edition in 2024 but won in 2000, 2008, 2012, 2022 and 2018, and would need some doing to stop them in this edition.

Thirteen wins in their last 16 matches, including series victories in England, Australia and South Africa, indicate that they are formidable on any conditions, be it home or away.

Precocious 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi has grabbed headlines ever since his 35-ball century in the Indian Premier League’s 2025 season and it is expected to be no different in this tournament too though India have other talented batters in skipper Ayush Mhatre, vice-captain Vihaan Malhotra, Abhigyan Kundu and Aaron George.

Mhatre and Malhotra return to the team after sitting out their three-match ODI series against South Africa with injuries while top-order operator George would be keen to continue from his 228-run effort in the U-19 Asia Cup where he was the top scorer.

In the bowling section, pacer Deepesh Devendran’s awkward action could be a handful for opposition batters while RS Ambrish generates good pace.

USA are led by big-hitting Utkarsh Srivastava and have a bunch of subcontinental-origin players.

Apart from India and USA, Group B has New Zealand and Bangladesh, whom Mhatre’s side meet on January 17, followed by clash against the Kiwis on January 24.

Zimbabwe and Namibia are joint hosts of the 16-team tournament, where Tanzania will make their first appearance while for Japan it will be their second appearance.

India: Ayush Mhatre (c), R.S. Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, D. Deepesh, Mohamed Enaan, Aaron George, Abhigyan Kundu, Kishan Kumar Singh, Vihaan Malhotra, Udhav Mohan, Henil Patel, Khilan A. Patel, Harvansh Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Vedant Trivedi.

USA: Utkarsh Srivastava (c), Adnit Jhamb, Shiv Shani, Nitish Sudini, Advaith Krishna, Sahir Bhatia, Arjun Mahesh, Amrinder Gill, Sabrish Prasad, Adit Kappa, Sahil Garg, Amogh Reddy Arepally, Ritvik Appidi, Rayaan Taj, Rishabh Shimpi.

India vs USA – 1pm.

Live on Star Sports Network and jiostar app.