MUMBAI, December 28 — The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026, to be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6. Five-time champions India are placed in Group B alongside New Zealand, the USA, and Bangladesh.
Who Will Lead the India U19 Team?
Skipper Ayush Mhatre will lead the squad, with Vihaan Malhotra serving as vice-captain. However, both players will miss a pre-tournament ODI series in South Africa due to wrist injuries. They will undergo treatment at the BCCI Centre of Excellence before joining the team directly for the World Cup. For the South Africa series, Suryavanshi will captain the side, with Aaron George as his deputy.
What Does India’s World Cup Schedule Look Like?
India will begin its campaign against the USA on January 15 at the Queen’s Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The second Group B match is against Bangladesh on January 17 at the same venue. The final group-stage fixture is against New Zealand on January 24. These matches are crucial for India to secure a top position and advance to the Super Six stage of the 16-team tournament.
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India’s U19 squad for South Africa tour and ICC Men’s U19 World Cup announced.
Details▶️https://t.co/z21VRlpvjg#U19WorldCup pic.twitter.com/bL8pkT5Ca2
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 27, 2025
Which Key Players are in the Squad?
The squad includes wicket-keeper Abhigyan Kundu, who scored an unbeaten 209 against Malaysia in the U19 Asia Cup. Aaron George was India’s top scorer in that tournament. Yuvraj Gohil and Naman Pushpak from the Asia Cup team have been replaced by two new players, R.S. Ambrish and Mohamed Enaan. For the international tournament, this combination seeks to offer a balance of new talent and experience.
What is the Team’s Preparation Path?
The upcoming ODI series in South Africa serves as a vital warm-up for the World Cup, allowing the team to test combinations despite the absence of its appointed captain and vice-captain. After that, the emphasis will be on getting the tournament off to a solid start in Zimbabwe in order to gain momentum during the group stage.
FAQs:
Q: When and where is the ICC U19 World Cup 2026?
A: The tournament will be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6, 2026.
Q: Who is the captain of the India U19 World Cup squad?
A: Ayush Mhatre is the appointed captain, with Vihaan Malhotra as vice-captain.
Q: Why are the captain and vice-captain missing the South Africa series?
A: Before joining the World Cup squad, Ayush Mhatre and Vihaan Malhotra will continue their recuperation from wrist ailments.
Q: Who are India’s opponents in the group stage?
A: India is in Group B with the USA, Bangladesh, and New Zealand.
Q: Which new players have been included in the squad?
A: R.S. Ambrish and Mohamed Enaan are the new inclusions, replacing Yuvraj Gohil and Naman Pushpak from the Asia Cup squad.
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