Ayush Mhatre has been appointed as the captain of the Indian Under-19 team for the 2026 ICC Under-19 World Cup, scheduled to begin in January across Zimbabwe and Namibia. The talented batter will lead a strong 15-member squad as India aim to continue their dominance at the youth level on the global stage.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, another exciting prospect, has been named in the World Cup squad and will captain India Under-19 for the youth ODI series against South Africa ahead of the tournament. The series will serve as crucial preparation before the World Cup begins on January 15.
Mhatre, along with vice-captain Vihaan Malhotra, is currently recovering from a wrist injury and will miss the South Africa bilateral series. Both players will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for rehabilitation and are expected to join the team in time for the World Cup.
India Under-19 Tour of South Africa: Leadership and Key Matches
The three-match youth ODI series against South Africa Under-19 will be played in Benoni on January 3, 5, and 7. In Mhatre’s absence, Vaibhav Suryavanshi will take charge, with Aaron George serving as vice-captain.
Suryavanshi is in impressive form, having scored a remarkable 190 for Bihar against Arunachal Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He also played a key role in the recently concluded Under-19 Asia Cup, where he scored 261 runs in five matches to finish as India’s second-highest run-scorer.
Mhatre captained India to the final of the Under-19 Asia Cup in Dubai earlier this month, highlighting his leadership credentials. Abhigyan Kundu, who topped India’s batting charts in the tournament with 271 runs, has been included in both the South Africa tour squad and the World Cup squad.
India’s Group and Format for the 2026 Under-19 World Cup
India have been placed in Group B of the 2026 Under-19 World Cup alongside New Zealand, Bangladesh, and the USA. Their campaign begins on January 15 against the USA in Bulawayo, followed by matches against Bangladesh on January 17 and New Zealand on January 24.
The tournament features 16 teams divided into four groups of four in the opening round. The top three teams from each group will advance to the Super Six stage, where they will be split into two groups of six. The top two teams from each Super Six group will qualify for the semi-finals, with the final scheduled to be played on February 6 in Harare.
India Under-19 Squad for South Africa Tour
Vaibhav Suryavanshi (capt), Aaron George (vc), Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), Harvansh Singh (wk), RS Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan A Patel, Mohamed Enaan, Henil Patel, D Deepesh, Kishan Kumar Singh, Udhav Mohan, Yuvraj Gohil, Rahul Kumar
India Squad for 2026 Under-19 World Cup
Ayush Mhatre (capt), Vihaan Malhotra (vc), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Aaron George, Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), Harvansh Singh (wk), RS Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan A Patel, Mohamed Enaan, Henil Patel, D Deepesh, Kishan Kumar Singh, Udhav Mohan
