Not Jasprit Bumrah or Mohammed Shami, Henil Patel credits this speedster's aggression for his match-winning spell vs USA

India Under-19 speedster Henil Patel credited South Africa legend Dale Steyn as his inspiration behind his match-winning performance against the USA in the Under-19 World Cup.

Patel played a crucial role for India to get off to a winning start in their Under-19 World Cup opener clash against the USA. He bowled a match-winning spell of 5 for 16 that helped the Ayush Mhatre-led side to register a six-wicket win. Patel said that growing up, Steyn was his favourite bowler, and he tried to copy Steyn's bowling style.

"What I get from Dale Steyn is that I like his aggression a lot," Patel told ICC Digital. "His bowling was so good that there was no batter who could play against him easily because he was so tough to face."

Best performances by Indian bowlers in Under-19 World Cup

Notably, it was the third-best bowling performance by an Indian in any Men’s Under-19 World Cup. Only Kamal Passi’s 6 for 23 against Zimbabwe in 2012 and Anukul Roy’s 5 for 14 against Papua New Guinea in 2018 are better.

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Henil Patel's bowling strategy against the USA

Three of Henil Patel’s five wickets came with the new ball at Queens Sports Club, where he made an immediate impact. His early spell put the USA under pressure, leaving them in a spot of bother at 34 for 4. The calm and soft-spoken 18-year-old later explained that his success came from keeping things simple by pitching the ball up, aiming at the stumps, and always looking to take wickets.

“I go in with the mindset of getting the batter out within three or four balls,” Patel said. “Whether it’s training or a match, I prepare the same way. I focus on early wickets, stay calm, and back my plan.”

India vs USA match report

After winning the toss, five-time champions India chose to bowl first, and Patel quickly proved it was the right call. The right-arm pacer delivered a sharp opening spell, breaking through the USA’s top order and taking three wickets inside the first 12 overs as the score slipped to 35 for 4.

The pressure continued as the Indian bowlers kept chipping away. Deepesh Devendran, Ambarish RS, Khilan Patel, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi all picked up a wicket each to dismantle the middle order. Patel then returned to finish the job, cleaning up the tail to claim the first five-wicket haul of the tournament and bowl the USA out for just 107 in 36 overs.

India's upcoming outing

India will now face Bangladesh in their second clash of the Under-19 World Cup 2026, which will take place on January 17 at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo.