ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 2026: India announced its 15-member squad for the 2026 Under-19 Cricket World Cup on Saturday. The World Cup will be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6, 2026. Ayush Mhatre will captain the team, while Vihan Malhotra will serve as vice-captain. The next edition of the ICC Men's U19 World Cup will feature 16 teams, divided into four groups. The Super Six stage, semi-finals, and final will be played in Harare.
Five-time champions India (2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, and 2022) have been placed in Group B alongside New Zealand, USA, and Bangladesh. India will begin their campaign on January 15 against the USA at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. They will then play Bangladesh at the same venue on January 17 and New Zealand on January 24. Before the World Cup, the India U19 team will tour South Africa for a three-match ODI series in Benoni.
Ayush Mhatre and Vihaan Malhotra have sustained wrist injuries and will therefore miss the tour of South Africa. Both players will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for further treatment of their injuries and will then join the team for the ICC Men's Under-19 World Cup. India and South Africa will face each other in a three-match ODI series from January 3 to 7, 2026, in Benoni. Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been appointed captain of the team for the ODI series.
India has won this World Cup a record five times, but they suffered a defeat against Australia in the final last time. Therefore, the responsibility of bringing the trophy back to India rests on this team, and much of the hope will be placed on 14-year-old opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who has been performing exceptionally well. Abhigyan Kundu will continue to handle the wicketkeeping duties in the World Cup. Besides them, fast bowler Devendran Deepesh and spinner Kanishk Chauhan, who impressed in the Asia Cup, are also key members of this squad.
India U-19 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.
India U-19 Squad for World Cup: Ayush Mhatre (c), Vihaan Malhotra (vc), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 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 U-19 vs South Africa U-19 Schedule
3rd January: 1st One Day, Willowmoore Park
5th January: 2nd One-Day, Willowmoore Park
7th January: 3rd One-Day, Willowmoore Park.
Team India's Schedule in the U19 World Cup
January 15: India vs USA, Bulawayo
January 17: India vs Bangladesh, Bulawayo
January 24: India vs New Zealand, Bulawayo.
