Ayush Mhatre will lead the India U-19 squad in the ICC Men’s U-19 World Cup to be held In Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6. The Junior cricket committee named Vihaan Malhotra as the vice-captain of the team.
Prior to the World Cup, India U-19 will tour South Africa for a three-match One-Day series in Benoni. The committee also picked the team for the three-match One-day series to be played on January 3, 5 and 7. All the three games will be held at the Willowmoore Park.
Vaibhav to lead team in South Africa as Ayush & Vihaan injured
Swashbuckling opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been named skipper for the South Africa leg of the tour. The record-shattering Bihar batter has been in terrific form of late. Hyderabad skipper Aaron George has been named the vice-captain of the side.
Ayush Mhatre and Vihaan Malhotra have sustained wrist injuries and will miss the South Africa tour. The duo will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for further management of their injuries and will join the team for the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup.
The upcoming edition of the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup will feature 16 teams divided into four groups, followed by the Super Six stage, semi-finals, and the final in Harare.
Five-time champions India (2000, 2008, 2012, 2018 and 2022) have been placed in Group B alongside New Zealand, USA and Bangladesh. India will begin their campaign against the USA on 15 January at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, followed by matches against Bangladesh on 17 January at the same venue and New Zealand on 24 January.
India’s squad for SA tour: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (capt), Aaron George (VC), Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), Harvansh Singh (wk), R.S. Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan A. Patel, Mohamed Enaan, Henil Patel, D. Deepesh, Kishan Kumar Singh, Udhav Mohan, Yuvraj Gohil, Rahul Kumar.
Squad for ICC Men’s U-19 World Cup 2026: Ayush Mhatre (capt), Vihaan Malhotra (VC), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Aaron George, Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), Harvansh Singh (wk), R.S. Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan A. Patel, Mohamed Enaan, Henil Patel, D. Deepesh, Kishan Kumar Singh, Udhav Mohan.
