Bulawayo: India continued their impressive run at the ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup by securing a decisive seven-wicket victory over New Zealand. This win allowed the five-time champions to maintain their unblemished record and advance to the Super Six phase of the tournament with maximum points.

According to International Cricket Council, India will face tougher challenges in the Super Six stage with upcoming matches against Zimbabwe on January 27 and Pakistan on February 1. Captain Ayush Mhatre expressed confidence in the team's ability to rise to these challenges, commending their adaptability and strong performance throughout the tournament.

"The whole tournament has been really nice and the boys have really played well and shown the character that shows strong attitude also," Mhatre stated. Despite rain interruptions during their match against New Zealand, Mhatre praised his team for adhering to the game plan and executing disciplined bowling.

Mhatre's performance against New Zealand was a key highlight, as he top-scored with 53 runs, following a strong start by opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who contributed 40 runs. This innings marked Mhatre's first significant contribution in the tournament, following previous scores of 19 and six against the USA and Bangladesh. He noted a change in his batting approach, emphasizing simplicity and focus at the crease.

"Just watch the ball closely and just play as a merit of the ball," Mhatre explained. "That was simple plan."