Ayush Mhatre: Now boarding Virar fast

Ayush Mhatre was at an Under-19 camp in Vadodara in April when his phone buzzed. CSK, who had lost Ruturaj Gaikwad to a hand fracture, were on the line, asking him to come for a trial. After quick coordination with the BCCI, the 17-year-old flew to Chennai.

He had trialed with Mumbai Indians before the mega-auction but didn't earn a bid, which was unsurprising as he was yet to play any T20 cricket. After doing what CSK asked in Chennai, he flew back to Vadodara without expecting an immediate call-up. Days later, his phone buzzed again: CSK had officially roped him in.

A week into his time as an IPL player, he was back in Mumbai. On the eve of the match against MI, Stephen Fleming told him he would debut. Sachin Koli, Ayush's coach from school and college, was with him at the team hotel and suggested planning for the big day. Ayush replied, "No sir, don't worry about it, let's go get something to eat."

The next evening at Wankhede Stadium, after advice to settle his nerves in the first 5-10 minutes, he hit 4, 4, 6 off the first three balls and finished with 32 off 15. Three games later, opening in Bengaluru, he smashed 94 off 48 balls in a losing cause, leaving Fleming impressed.

"He's got talent, hand-eye coordination, a beautiful swing, and aggression—everything we like in a modern T20 player. But I'm most impressed with his temperament and ability to execute in a trial and on the big stage," Fleming said.

Temperament has been a hallmark of Ayush's career. At a private U14 tournament in Pune, wearing his official MCA trousers, his foot slipped on an unfamiliar matting wicket. A cover fielder sledged, "He's a Mumbai player, but he's not even able to stand." Ayush ignored it but hit successive sixes off that bowler later, scoring a double-century and following it with more centuries.

The Mhatre household emphasizes vibe and passion. Yogesh, his father, planned to let Ayush chase his cricket obsession and reassess when he reached sixth grade. If the passion dimmed, academics would take priority. But first, Yogesh wanted to give his son a proper shot.

"From the beginning, I wanted to give him passion—sports, music, anything. I wanted to give him a choice, and whatever he chooses, I will follow," Yogesh said.

After his fifth birthday, Ayush joined a local club. A year later, they sought training at Oval maidan in Churchgate. Every morning, they left home at 5 AM, taking a crowded local train from Virar to Matunga—a 70-kilometer journey—so Ayush could train at Don Bosco school from 7 to 8:30 AM before school at 8:45 AM.

Yogesh would return to his job at a bank in Vasai. During lunch, he'd rush home, eat, and take Ayush's maternal grandfather to the station. The grandfather would bring food to school, wait until classes ended at 3 PM, then escort Ayush to the Vengsarkar Academy at the maidan for training from 4 to 6 PM. Ayush would return home on a 6:30 PM train.

"His motivation came from his interest in the sport," Yogesh said. "He'd leave at 5 AM, return at 8:30 PM. After coming back, he'd spend another 30-45 minutes hitting a hanging ball outside our house before we had to forcibly bring him inside. He showed no fatigue."

The family created a supportive environment, removing pressure. "We created a vibe where he would enjoy. If he got out for zero, we'd say we just need to put a figure in front of it next time. That's why he doesn't take failures too seriously. Even big scores aren't overcelebrated," Yogesh explained.

Dilip Vengsarkar once told Yogesh he was impressed with a six-year-old Ayush at his academy. When his grandfather's health made the commute impossible, cricket nearly stopped. Yogesh's brother stepped in, ferrying him to MIG Academy in Bandra. Yogesh sent coach Prashant Shetty videos of Ayush's batting before getting approval for the switch.

After sixth grade, with Ayush still devoted to cricket, studies took a backseat. The Mumbai cricket ecosystem gave Yogesh hope that talent would be recognized.

At 12, playing for his club at Matunga Gymkhana, his team was 60/6 when he walked in and hit a blistering century. "The way he batted as a 12-year-old… I thought, what a talent," recalled Sachin Koli. Soon after, Yogesh approached Koli to coach Ayush at IES VN Sule school in Dadar, and Koli agreed immediately.

Ayush broke into Mumbai's age-group teams ahead of schedule, playing U14 at 11 and U19 before U16. As 10th grade approached, Yogesh focused on cricket while his wife Jagruti handled academics. Yogesh took a 15-month break from work to travel with him on club tours. His school accommodated by changing exam dates based on his availability. Ayush returned from a tour on February 12, 2022, with state board exams starting March 3, and scored 69%.

He enrolled at Podar College of Economics and Commerce, reuniting with coach Koli. In mid-2023, former Mumbai pacer Pradeep Kaslival, head of MCA's satellite academies, reached out to Koli for a match. Ayush outclassed top performers from across Mumbai. Koli asked Kaslival if Ayush was ready for higher-level cricket. "This boy is ready now," Kaslival responded.

The next year was spent trying to stay on India U19 selectors' radar. He traveled widely and scored runs but missed selection for the U19 home series against Australia in September-October 2024. MCA then sent him to Bengaluru for the Dr. K Thimmappiah Memorial tournament, his first against a senior side. He scored a fifty against Andhra and 173 against Gujarat. Mumbai chief selector Sanjay Patil saw enough and fast-tracked him into the Irani Trophy squad.

Ten days after his Irani cap, he made his Ranji Trophy debut, scoring a fifty against Baroda. Back in Mumbai, he hit 176 off 232 balls against Maharashtra, with 24 fours and four sixes, catching the attention of opposition captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who later recommended him to CSK as a replacement option.

By the end of 2024, Ayush broke into the India U19 team for the Asia Cup in December. He made his List A debut in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and on the last day of 2024, scored 181 off 117 against Nagaland, becoming the youngest (17 years, 168 days) to score 150-plus in men's List A cricket, beating Yashasvi Jaiswal's record.

Mid-2025, just before turning 18, he captained the India U19 side in England, top-scoring in two Tests, and again in Australia in September-October.

"For me as a coach, this is nothing short of a miracle. Six debuts in a BCCI calendar year is miraculous," said Shetty.

Shetty had groomed him for leadership over three years. "I told him, in the dressing room, don't just listen—think about what you can add. Whether he leads or not, you should be 30-40% ready if it comes your way."

Ayush has remained level-headed. He recently scored back-to-back SMAT centuries, becoming the youngest (18 years, 135 days) to score a century in all three domestic formats—first-class, List A, and T20—beating Rohit Sharma's record. Yet, none of this has changed him. At home, Yogesh keeps his door open for any topic his son wants to discuss.

"I don't think players are prepared for too much limelight too soon," said Shetty, who also coached Prithvi Shaw. "I get worried, but Ayush doesn't handle his social media and is rooted in family values. I'm sure money and adulation won't affect him. It hasn't so far."

Ayush went from a mid-season replacement to a no-brainer retention for CSK in IPL 2026. Yogesh recently filled out forms for Ayush's deferred 12th-grade board exams, but the trip to the exam hall is postponed again. Ayush will be in Zimbabwe, captaining India at the U19 World Cup.