6 October 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : Tanmay Baloda produced a sensational bowling performance as India Under-19 bowled Australia Under-19 out for 174 on the opening day of the second Youth Test in Ahmedabad. The left-arm spinner claimed six wickets for 32 runs, including 11 maiden overs, to put India in a strong position after the visitors struggled throughout their first innings.
Australia were invited to bat first at the Narendra Modi Stadium B Ground and found themselves in trouble early. India captain Yashbardhan Chauhan used his bowlers effectively, with Priyanshu Singh dismissing Australian captain Matthew Lough in the second over. Mohit Ulva then removed Hayden Barbulovic, leaving Australia at 28 for two.
Baloda soon became the main threat for the Australian batting order. He opened his account by trapping Eli Brain leg before wicket. Two overs later, Neel Patel, who had scored 31, attempted to advance down the pitch but was stumped by wicketkeeper Abhipray Biswas.
Ayaan Akram added to Australia’s problems by dismissing Blake Cattle, while Baloda struck again to remove Zed Hollick. Australia had lost four wickets for just 15 runs and slipped to 65 for six.
With the top and middle order unable to establish themselves, wicketkeeper Charlie Henderson and Jacob Pietz attempted to rebuild the innings. The pair showed considerable patience and put together a 70-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
Henderson top-scored for Australia with 37 runs from 147 balls, while Pietz contributed 26 from 107 deliveries. Their partnership helped Australia recover from a precarious position and gave the lower order an opportunity to push the total towards a more competitive figure.
Baloda eventually ended the partnership by bowling Pietz. Akram then dismissed Henderson, leaving Australia once again vulnerable. The tailenders added some valuable runs, but Baloda continued to apply pressure.
The spinner completed his six-wicket haul by taking the final wicket of Patrick Sullivan, who made 20. Baloda finished with outstanding figures of 25 overs, 11 maidens, 32 runs and six wickets.
Biswas was also impressive behind the stumps, contributing three catches and two stumpings as India’s bowling attack kept Australia under constant pressure.
Australia were eventually bowled out for 174 in 73 overs. Their innings was built around Henderson’s 37 and Patel’s 31, but no other batter managed to score 30 or more. The visitors’ inability to convert starts into substantial partnerships proved costly.
India’s response, however, did not begin smoothly. The hosts lost both openers before the close of play. Lakshya Raichandani, who had scored a remarkable 240 in the first Youth Test, struggled to get going and was dismissed for just one run from 22 deliveries.
Sagar Virk followed after making 16, with three boundaries in his innings, before being trapped leg before wicket by Australia’s Spencer Green. India ended the day at 38 for two after 15 overs, leaving them 136 runs behind Australia’s first-innings total.
Kushagra Ojha remained unbeaten on 13 at stumps, while captain Yashbardhan Chauhan was not out on seven. Australia will therefore take some encouragement from their late strikes despite being bowled out cheaply.
The second Youth Test is particularly significant because India entered the match with a 1-0 lead in the two-match series after winning the opening Test in Rajkot by an innings. The hosts will now look to build a first-innings lead on the second day, while Australia will hope their bowlers can exploit the conditions and put further pressure on India’s batting lineup.
Baloda’s performance has emerged as the defining moment of the opening day. The Haryana left-arm spinner was added to India’s multi-day Under-19 squad as a replacement and made a major impact in Ahmedabad. The BCCI had announced his inclusion in the squad in September after an age-related withdrawal involving another player.
India will resume on the second day at 38 for two, with Ojha and Chauhan at the crease. They require another 137 runs to move ahead of Australia’s first-innings score. The contest remains open, but Baloda’s remarkable six-wicket spell has given India an important advantage after the opening day’s play.