Mhatre named India's captain for U19 World Cup

Ayush Mhatre has been named India's skipper for the 2026 Under-19 World Cup. Vihaan Malhotra, who was recently picked by RCB in the IPL Auction, has been named Mhatre's deputy in India's squads announced for the showpiece event and the tour of South Africa.

Both Mhatre and Malhotra will miss the South Africa tour due to wrist injuries. The duo will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for injury management and are expected to join the team directly for the World Cup.

In their absence, India will be led by Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the three one-dayers on January 3, 5, and 7 in South Africa. The series serves as preparation for the World Cup scheduled in Namibia and Zimbabwe.

India opens its campaign against the United States on January 15 in Bulawayo, followed by matches against Bangladesh and New Zealand in the group phase. India is the most successful team in the tournament's history, having won it five times.

Squad for South Africa tour: Vaibhav Suryavanshi (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

Squad for U19 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