Five-time champions India have confirmed their 15-member squad for the ICC Men's U19 World Cup 2026, set to commence on
January 15 in Zimbabwe and Namibia. The team, aiming for a record sixth title, will be led by Ayush Mhatre, with
talented batting all-rounder Vihaan Malhotra serving as his deputy. India finds itself positioned in Group B for the
tournament, alongside New Zealand, USA, and regional rivals Bangladesh, setting the stage for competitive group-stage
The squad announcement follows India's recent campaign at the U19 Asia Cup, where the team reached the summit clash
before succumbing to Pakistan. This experience provides a critical performance benchmark and integrates recent
competitive exposure into the team's preparation for the global event. Individual performances from the Asia Cup shed
light on the form and potential roles of several key players included in the World Cup contingent.
From the batting contingent, 19-year-old top-order batter Aaron George emerged as India's leading run-scorer at the U19
Asia Cup, accumulating 228 runs. His consistency at the top of the order offers stability and a foundation for the
team's innings, a crucial aspect in multi-team tournaments. Alongside George, 17-year-old wicket-keeper-batter Abhigyan
Kundu garnered attention for an unbeaten 209* off just 125 deliveries during India's commanding 315-run victory against
Malaysia. This innings, laced with 17 boundaries and nine maximums, showcased his capacity for rapid scoring and
aggressive batting, presenting a significant asset in accelerating run rates or chasing challenging targets. Vaibhav
Sooryavanshi, another player in the squad, was also identified as a player in focus, suggesting his potential impact on
the team's batting dynamics.
On the bowling front, 17-year-old medium-pacer Deepesh Devendran spearheaded India's attack at the U19 Asia Cup,
securing nine scalps to finish as the team's highest wicket-taker. His ability to consistently pick up wickets will be
vital for India in containing opposition scoring and creating breakthroughs in various match situations. The performance
of these individuals provides a performance context that indicates their current form and potential contributions to the
A notable challenge for the squad in the immediate lead-up to the World Cup is the management of injuries to captain
Ayush Mhatre and vice-captain Vihaan Malhotra. Both players are currently recovering from injuries and will miss the
upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa. Their absence from this preparatory series means the team will
need to operate under temporary leadership, providing an opportunity for other players to step into leadership roles.
Their recovery process will be managed at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, with the objective of ensuring their full
fitness and readiness to rejoin the squad for the World Cup starting January 15. The reintegration of Mhatre and
Malhotra, close to the tournament start, will be a key factor in establishing team cohesion and tactical execution.
In terms of squad composition, India has implemented two further changes from the U19 Asia Cup lineup. Yuvraj Gohil and
Naman Pushpak, who were part of the Asia Cup squad, have stepped aside, making way for R.S. Ambrish and Mohamed Enaan.
These adjustments suggest a strategic refinement in player selection, potentially aimed at bolstering specific skill
sets or providing fresh impetus to the team's overall balance ahead of the global tournament. The integration of Ambrish
and Enaan into the squad will be a point of focus during the preparatory phase. These selections and individual
performances will collectively shape India's campaign as they aim to compete for their sixth U19 World Cup title.