With the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup fast approaching, anticipation is building among cricket fans worldwide. The tournament is scheduled to be held from 15 January to 6 February next year, jointly hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia. In preparation, participating nations are announcing their squads, and India has unveiled a 15-member squad with a notable surprise.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the squad on Saturday (27 December), retaining the widely discussed Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the World Cup lineup. In addition, the BCCI announced a separate squad for the pre-World Cup tour of South Africa. Vaibhav will lead the team during the South Africa series, as regular captain Ayush Mahatre and vice-captain Bihan Malhotra are currently unavailable due to injuries.
Despite Vaibhav captaining in South Africa, Ayush Mahatre will assume the captaincy for the World Cup itself. Both Ayush and Bihan are undergoing rehabilitation at the Bangalore Centre of Excellence and are expected to join the squad once fully fit.
The Indian U-19 World Cup squad comprises a blend of experienced campaigners and promising youngsters, aiming to challenge for the title.
Indian Squad – U-19 World Cup 2026:
| Player Name | Role | Captain/VC |
|---|---|---|
| Ayush Mahatre | Batter | Captain |
| Bihan Malhotra | All-rounder | Vice-Captain |
| Vaibhav Suryavanshi | Batter | – |
| Aaron George | All-rounder | – |
| Vedant Trivedi | Batter | – |
| Abhigyan Kundu | Wicketkeeper | – |
| Harbansh Singh | Wicketkeeper | – |
| RS Ambarish | Bowler | – |
| Kanisk Chauhan | All-rounder | – |
| Khilan Patel | Bowler | – |
| Mohamed Enan | All-rounder | – |
| Henil Patel | Batter | – |
| Dipesh Devendran | Bowler | – |
| Kishan Kumar Singh | All-rounder | – |
| Uddhav Mohan | Bowler | – |
Indian Squad – South Africa Tour 2025:
| Player Name | Role | Captain/VC |
|---|---|---|
| Vaibhav Suryavanshi | Batter | Captain |
| Aaron George | All-rounder | Vice-Captain |
| Vedant Trivedi | Batter | – |
| Abhigyan Kundu | Wicketkeeper | – |
| Harbansh Singh | Wicketkeeper | – |
| RS Ambarish | Bowler | – |
| Kanisk Chauhan | All-rounder | – |
| Khilan Patel | Bowler | – |
| Mohamed Enan | All-rounder | – |
| Henil Patel | Batter | – |
| Dipesh Devendran | Bowler | – |
| Kishan Singh | All-rounder | – |
| Uddhav Mohan | Bowler | – |
| Yuvraj Gohil | All-rounder | – |
| Rahul Kumar | Bowler | – |
This dual announcement underscores India’s strategy of providing leadership experience to emerging players while ensuring the main squad remains fully fit and competitive for the World Cup. Cricket enthusiasts will be keenly watching how these selections perform on both the South African tour and the global stage next January.