 on Saturday, December 27, announced the 15-member squad for the 2026 ICC Under-19 World Cup){kind=link}
ICC Under-19 World Cup: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday, December 27, announced the 15-member squad for the 2026 ICC Under-19 World Cup, confirming that Ayush Mhatre will continue as India U19 captain for the marquee tournament. While young batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been handed leadership duties for the upcoming Youth ODI series against South Africa, he will not captain the side at the World Cup.
This decision has sparked curiosity among fans, especially given Suryavanshi’s rapid rise in domestic cricket and his growing reputation as one of India’s most exciting young batters. Here’s a detailed look at why Ayush Mhatre will lead India at the U19 World Cup, despite Suryavanshi captaining the team in the interim.
Ayush Mhatre Retained as India U19 Captain for World Cup
Ayush Mhatre has been leading the India U19 side consistently over a long period and is considered a core member of the leadership group by the selectors. Alongside him, Vihaan Malhotra has been named vice-captain for the World Cup.
The BCCI and selection committee have reiterated their confidence in both Mhatre and Malhotra, expecting them to fully recover from their current injuries before the start of the tournament. Since continuity in leadership is crucial at a World Cup, the selectors decided to stick with the established captaincy combination.
Why Vaibhav Suryavanshi Will Captain Only the SA Series
India U19 are scheduled to play three Youth One-Day Internationals against South Africa ahead of the World Cup. For this series, Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been given the captaincy—but only as a stand-in arrangement.
The primary reason behind this decision is that Ayush Mhatre and Vihaan Malhotra are both unavailable due to injuries and will miss the South Africa series. In their absence, the selectors were compelled to appoint a temporary captain, and Suryavanshi was chosen based on his temperament and recent performances.
However, it is important to note that Suryavanshi has never been a permanent part of the India U19 leadership group. He will lead the team only when both the captain and vice-captain are unavailable.
Suryavanshi’s Leadership Journey Still in Early Stages
While Vaibhav Suryavanshi is already vice-captain of the Bihar cricket team, his leadership experience at the national junior level is still limited. The selectors view him as a future leader but believe that a World Cup requires proven leadership stability rather than experimentation.
A rising star, Suryavanshi is also part of the Rajasthan Royals setup in the IPL, and many experts feel he could take on bigger leadership roles in domestic cricket over the next couple of seasons.
India U19 World Cup 2026 Schedule
The Ayush Mhatre-led India U19 side will begin their World Cup campaign on January 15 against USA Under-19 cricket team. Their second group-stage match will be against Bangladesh Under-19 cricket team on January 17.
India will then face New Zealand Under-19 cricket team in their final league-stage fixture on January 24. The final of the 2026 U19 World Cup is scheduled to be played on February 6.
With a settled captain, a strong squad, and several match-winners in form, India U19 will once again enter the World Cup as one of the favourites to lift the title.
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