The countdown to the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup has begun, with young cricketers gearing up for the prestigious tournament set to be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia next January. In anticipation of this global youth extravaganza, participating nations are unveiling their squads, and India has followed suit, revealing a 15-member team with a few surprises.
On Saturday, 27 December, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad for the upcoming U-19 World Cup, retaining the highly anticipated Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Alongside this, the board also named the squad for India’s preparatory series against South Africa. Notably, Vaibhav Suryavanshi will lead the side in the South Africa series due to the unavailability of the regular captain Ayush Mahatre and vice-captain Bihan Malhotra.
Despite Vaibhav assuming captaincy for the South Africa tour, the BCCI confirmed that Ayush Mahatre will lead the Indian side during the U-19 World Cup. Both Ayush and Bihan, who are recovering from injuries, are undergoing rehabilitation at the Bangalore Centre of Excellence and are expected to join the squad once fully fit.
The Under-19 World Cup is scheduled to take place from 15 January to 6 February, promising an intense competition among the world’s best young cricketing talents.
India’s U-19 World Cup Squad:
| Player Name | Role | Captaincy Role |
|---|---|---|
| Ayush Mahatre | Batter | Captain |
| Bihan Malhotra | All-rounder | Vice-Captain |
| Vaibhav Suryavanshi | Batter | – |
| Aaron George | All-rounder | – |
| Bedant Trivedi | All-rounder | – |
| Abhigyan Kundu | Wicket-keeper | – |
| Harbansh Singh | Wicket-keeper | – |
| RS Ambrish | Batter | – |
| Kanisk Chauhan | Batter | – |
| Khilan Patel | All-rounder | – |
| Mohamed Enan | Bowler | – |
| Henil Patel | Bowler | – |
| Dipesh Devendran | All-rounder | – |
| Kishan Kumar Singh | All-rounder | – |
| Uddhav Mohan | Bowler | – |
India’s Squad for South Africa Series:
| Player Name | Role | Captaincy Role |
|---|---|---|
| Vaibhav Suryavanshi | Batter | Captain |
| Aaron George | All-rounder | Vice-Captain |
| Bedant Trivedi | All-rounder | – |
| Abhigyan Kundu | Wicket-keeper | – |
| Harbansh Singh | Wicket-keeper | – |
| RS Ambrish | Batter | – |
| Kanisk Chauhan | Batter | – |
| Khilan Patel | All-rounder | – |
| Mohamed Enan | Bowler | – |
| Henil Patel | Bowler | – |
| Dipesh Devendran | All-rounder | – |
| Kishan Singh | All-rounder | – |
| Uddhav Mohan | Bowler | – |
| Yuvraj Gohil | All-rounder | – |
| Rahul Kumar | Bowler | – |
With this announcement, India’s youth cricketing prospects are set to shine on the international stage, combining experience, talent, and strategic leadership to make a strong mark in the upcoming U-19 World Cup.
