Ayush Mhatre (L) and Vihaan Malhotra (R) will lead India at U-19 World Cup. (PHOTO: CREIMAS FOR BCCI/X)
Exciting young talents Ayush Mhatre and Vihaan Malhotra have been named captain and vice-captain of the India U-19 squad for the 2026 ICC Under-19 World Cup. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad on Saturday for the tournament, which is scheduled to be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6.
Ahead of the World Cup, where India will aim for a record sixth title, the team will tour South Africa for a three-match One-Day series in Benoni. The BCCI also announced a separate 15-player squad for this series.
In a notable development, 14-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi will lead the Indian side in South Africa. This change comes in the absence of Mhatre and Malhotra, who, according to a BCCI notification, “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 ICC Men’s U19 World Cup will feature 16 teams divided into four groups, followed by a Super Six stage, semifinals, and a final in Harare. Five-time champions India (2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, and 2022) have been placed in Group B alongside New Zealand, the USA, and Bangladesh.
India’s campaign will begin against the USA on January 15 at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, followed by matches against Bangladesh on January 17 at the same venue and New Zealand on January 24.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (C), 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
Ayush Mhatre (C), 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.
| India U19’s Tour of South Africa, 2026 | ||||
| No. | Day | Date | Match | Venue |
| 1 | Saturday | 3rd January | 1st One-Day | Willowmoore Park |
| 2 | Monday | 5th January | 2nd One-Day | Willowmoore Park |
| 3 | Wednesday | 7th January | 3rd One-Day | Willowmoore Park |
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