Ayush Mhatre has been named India’s captain for the upcoming ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup, to be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6.
However, Mhatre and Vihaan Malhotra, who is also part of the U19 World Cup squad, will miss the pre-tournament 50-over tour of South Africa from January 3 to 7 after sustaining wrist injuries.
In Mhatre’s absence, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will lead the side on the South Africa tour, where India will play all three matches at Willowmoore Park in Benoni. Yuvraj Gohil and Rahul Kumar have been added to the squad selected by the Junior Men’s Selection Committee.
IANS understands that both Mhatre and Malhotra were in Mumbai on Friday for further assessment of their wrist injuries, and their status remains unclear.
“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 Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement on Saturday.
Fast-bowling all-rounder R.S. Ambrish and leg-spin all-rounder Mohamed Enaan also return to the India U19 team in place of Gohil and Naman Pushpak.
The ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026 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, who lifted the title in 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, and 2022, have been drawn in Group A alongside New Zealand, the USA, and Bangladesh. India will open their campaign against the USA on January 15 at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, before facing Bangladesh and New Zealand on January 17 and 24 at the same venue.
India 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 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.
(IANS)
