The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially named the India Under-19 squad that will compete in the upcoming tour of South Africa and the prestigious ICC Men's Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026. The global tournament is scheduled to be hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Leadership and Squad Composition
Leading the young brigade will be Ayush Mhatre, the dynamic opening batter from Mumbai. He has been appointed as the captain for the World Cup campaign. His deputy and vice-captain for the tournament will be Vihaan Malhotra. The selection panel has put together a 15-member squad blending talent from across the country.
The Star Inclusion: Vaibhav Suryavanshi
The most talked-about selection is the inclusion of 14-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The young prodigy, known for his aggressive and fearless strokeplay, has already created a significant buzz in domestic and age-group cricket circles. His selection underscores the team's focus on injecting raw, attacking talent into the lineup for the World Cup.
The full India U19 squad for the ICC Men's U19 World Cup 2026 is:
- Ayush Mhatre (Captain)
- Vihaan Malhotra (Vice-Captain)
- Vaibhav Suryavanshi
- Aaron George
- Vedant Trivedi
- Abhigyan Kundu (Wicketkeeper)
- Harvansh Singh (Wicketkeeper)
- R.S. Ambrish
- Kanishk Chouhan
- Khilan A. Patel
- Mohamed Enaan
- Henil Patel
- D. Deepesh
- Kishan Kumar Singh
- Udhav Mohan
Preparatory Tour to South Africa
As a crucial part of their preparation, the team will first embark on a three-match ODI series in South Africa. Interestingly, for this preparatory tour, Vaibhav Suryavanshi will take on the captaincy, with Aaron George serving as his vice-captain. This indicates the high regard the selectors have for his temperament and leadership potential at a young age.
The squad for the South Africa tour includes two additional players: Yuvraj Gohil and Rahul Kumar, making it a 17-member contingent for the away series.
Road to the World Cup
The announcement, made on December 27, 2025, sets the stage for India's campaign to reclaim the Under-19 World Cup trophy. The selection aims to build a balanced side capable of adapting to conditions in Southern Africa. All eyes will be on how captain Ayush Mhatre marshals his resources and whether young Vaibhav Suryavanshi can translate his domestic form onto the world stage.
The BCCI's move to appoint separate leadership for the preparatory tour and the main event is a strategic one, designed to test and groom multiple players under pressure. The cricket fraternity in India now eagerly awaits the team's performance in South Africa as the first step towards World Cup glory in 2026.
