Ayush Mhatre to lead India as BCCI announces squad for U19 World Cup 2026
Ayush Mhatre to captain India as the BCCI announced the 15-member squad for the 2026 Under-19 World Cup on December 27.
New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-member squad for the 2026 Under-19 World Cup on Saturday, December 27. Ayush Mhatre will captain the Indian team in the mega tournament, and Vihaan Malhotra has been named as the vice-captain.
Ayush and Vihaan will miss the three-match 50-over series against South Africa before the World Cup after sustaining wrist injuries and will report to the BCCI CoE for further management. The duo will later join the squad ahead of the U19 World Cup. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will lead the side in Ayush's absence.
The Men in Blue are grouped alongside New Zealand, the USA and Bangladesh and are looking to win the sixth title. Sooryavanshi scored 190 runs from 84 balls during the Vijay Hazare tournament for Bihar against Arunachal Pradesh, which included 16 boundaries and 15 towering sixes. He reached the three-figure mark in just 36 balls and became the youngest player ever to score a List A century.
The explosive opener has scored 690 runs in 12 youth ODI matches in 2025, smashing two centuries and two fifties. The 14-year-old struck 171 against the United Arab Emirates in the opening stages of the U19 Asia Cup, but failed to maintain the consistency as India finished runners-up after failing to beat Pakistan in the final.
The squad includes Aaron George, Abhigyan Kundu, who contributed heavily during India's run to the Asia Cup final. India will start their campaign against the USA on January 15 at Bulawayo’s Queens Sports Club. Ahead of the tournament, the Men in Blue will face South Africa in a three-match ODI series in Benoni, which will begin on January 3.
India U19 squad for ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026
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’s squad for South Africa tour
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.