U19 World Cup: Mhatre to lead India; Sooryavanshi named captain for SA tour

The BCCI has named India’s Under-19 squads for the upcoming circuit of South Africa and the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi acceptable to pb the broadside connected the South Africa tour. Sooryavanshi has been appointed skipper for the three-match One-Day bid successful Benoni, with Aaron George named his deputy. Ayush Mhatre and Vihaan Malhotra person been ruled retired of the South Africa circuit aft sustaining wrist injuries. Both players volition study to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for further attraction and rehabilitation. The duo is expected to rejoin the setup successful clip for the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup, wherever they volition instrumentality connected enactment roles.

For the Under-19 World Cup, scheduled to beryllium held successful Zimbabwe and Namibia from 15 January to 6 February 2026, Ayush Mhatre volition skipper the Indian side, with Vihaan Malhotra serving arsenic vice-captain. India’s Under-19 circuit of South Africa volition dwell of 3 One-Day matches, each to beryllium played astatine Willowmoore Park successful Benoni. The bid begins connected Saturday, 3 January, followed by the 2nd lucifer connected 5 January and the last crippled connected 7 January.

The 2026 ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup volition diagnostic 16 teams divided into 4 groups, followed by the Super Six stage, semi-finals and the final, which volition beryllium held successful Harare. Five-time champions India, who person antecedently lifted the rubric successful 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018 and 2022, person been placed successful Group B alongside New Zealand, the USA and Bangladesh. India volition unfastened their World Cup run against the USA connected 15 January astatine the Queens Sports Club successful Bulawayo.

They volition past look Bangladesh astatine the aforesaid venue connected 17 January, earlier taking connected New Zealand connected 24 January.India’s squad for SA 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 KumarIndia 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.