India U19 World Cup 2026: Ayush Mhatre Named Captain as Squad and Fixtures Announced

The ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 is set to begin with major developments as India announced their squads for both the South Africa tour and the main tournament. Ayush Mhatre has been appointed captain of the India U19 World Cup 2026 squad, while IPL-bound talent Vihaan Malhotra will serve as vice-captain.

Ayush Mhatre to Lead India at U19 World Cup 2026

The selection committee has shown confidence in Ayush Mhatre by handing him leadership duties for the U19 World Cup 2026. However, both Mhatre and his deputy Vihaan Malhotra will miss the South Africa tour due to wrist injuries.

The duo will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for rehabilitation and are expected to directly rejoin the team for the World Cup matches in Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi to Captain India in South Africa Tour

In the absence of the regular captain and vice-captain, Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been named stand-in skipper for the three-match one-day series against South Africa. The matches will be played on January 3, 5, and 7.

This tour will act as a crucial build-up for the U19 World Cup 2026, helping young players adapt to overseas conditions before the marquee event.

India U19 World Cup 2026 Group and Match Schedule

India will begin their U19 World Cup campaign against the United States of America on January 15 in Bulawayo. They will then face Bangladesh and New Zealand in the group stage.

With five titles to their name, India enter the tournament as the most successful team in U19 World Cup history.

ICC U19 World Cup 2026 Hosts, Venues, and Format

The ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 will be jointly hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6. A total of 16 teams will compete across 41 matches.

Matches will be played at five venues, including Harare Sports Club, Queens Sports Club, Takashinga, Namibia Cricket Ground, and HP Oval in Windhoek.

Tournament Structure

• Four group stage pools
• Super Six round
• Two semi-finals
• Final on February 6 in Harare

U19 World Cup 2026 Groups

• Group A: Australia, Ireland, Japan, Sri Lanka
• Group B: India, Bangladesh, USA, New Zealand
• Group C: Zimbabwe, Pakistan, England, Scotland
• Group D: Tanzania, West Indies, Afghanistan, South Africa

India 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

India U19 World Cup 2026 Squad

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

ICC Chairman Jay Shah on U19 World Cup 2026

ICC Chairman Jay Shah highlighted the importance of the tournament, calling it the cradle of future cricketing icons. He also welcomed Tanzania, who will make their debut at a global ICC event.

The U19 World Cup continues to shape international cricket by producing stars like Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, and Shubman Gill.

India U19 World Cup 2026: Ayush Mhatre Named Captain as Squad and Fixtures Announced

With Ayush Mhatre at the helm, a balanced squad, and strong preparation, India enter the U19 World Cup 2026 with high expectations. As the action unfolds in Zimbabwe and Namibia, the tournament promises to spotlight the next generation of global cricket stars.