The Junior Cricket Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday announced the India Under-19 squads for the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa U19, followed by the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026 scheduled to be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6 next year.
In a major development, 14-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been named captain for the South Africa series, with Aaron George appointed as vice-captain. The decision comes as regular captain Ayush Mhatre and vice-captain Vihaan Malhotra miss the South Africa tour due to wrist injuries.
The BCCI confirmed that both players will undergo treatment at the BCCI Centre of Excellence and will return in time to lead India in the U19 World Cup.
“Ayush Mhatre and Vihaan Malhotra have sustained wrist injuries and will miss the South Africa tour. The duo will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for further management of their injuries and will join the team for the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup,” the BCCI stated in its release.
India U19 Squad for South Africa Tour
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Captain), Aaron George (Vice-Captain), Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (WK), Harvansh Singh (WK), RS Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan A. Patel, Mohamed Enaan, Henil Patel, D Deepesh, Kishan Kumar Singh, Udhav Mohan, Yuvraj Gohil, Rahul Kumar.
India U19 Squad for ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026
Ayush Mhatre (Captain), Vihaan Malhotra (Vice-Captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Aaron George, Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (WK), Harvansh Singh (WK), RS Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan A Patel, Mohamed Enaan, Henil Patel, D. Deepesh, Kishan Kumar Singh, Udhav Mohan.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi: India’s New Teenage Cricket Sensation
Rising Indian batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who has taken the nation by storm with his record-breaking performances in age-group cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL), was recently honoured with the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar by President Droupadi Murmu.
The left-handed powerhouse, who became the youngest cricketer to secure an IPL contract when Rajasthan Royals signed him for ₹1.1 crore, has drawn comparisons with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who too began his journey as a teenage prodigy.
His fearless batting, consistency, and rapid rise have positioned him as one of the most exciting young talents in Indian cricket today.