With the ICC Under-19 World Cup just around the corner, India has revealed its squad for the prestigious tournament, promising an unexpected twist. The event is scheduled to be held from 15 January to 6 February next year, across Zimbabwe and Namibia, featuring the world’s best young cricketers. Ahead of the global tournament, participating nations have begun announcing their squads, and India’s selection has caught the attention of fans and analysts alike.
On Saturday, 27 December, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the 15-member squad for the U-19 World Cup, notably including the highly regarded Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Alongside the World Cup announcement, BCCI also declared the squad for the upcoming series in South Africa, where India will test its young talent in competitive conditions.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been named captain for the South Africa tour, stepping in due to the absence of the regular captain, Ayush Mahatre, and vice-captain, Bihan Malhotra, who are both recovering from injuries. The duo is undergoing rehabilitation at Bengaluru’s Centre of Excellence and is expected to rejoin the team in time for the World Cup. Despite leading the team on the South African tour, Ayush Mahatre will resume captaincy for the World Cup.
India’s U-19 World Cup Squad:
| Player Name | Role | Captaincy Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ayush Mahatre | Batsman | Captain (World Cup) |
| Bihan Malhotra | All-rounder | Vice-Captain (WC) |
| Vaibhav Suryavanshi | All-rounder | Temporary Captain (SA) |
| Aaron George | All-rounder | — |
| Bedant Trivedi | All-rounder | — |
| Abhigyan Kundu | Wicketkeeper | — |
| Harvansh Singh | Wicketkeeper | — |
| RS Ambarish | Batsman | — |
| Kanisk Chauhan | Batsman | — |
| Khilan Patel | Batsman | — |
| Mohamed Enan | Bowler | — |
| Henil Patel | Bowler | — |
| Dipesh Devendran | Bowler | — |
| Kishan Kumar Singh | All-rounder | — |
| Uddhav Mohan | All-rounder | — |
India’s Squad for South Africa Tour:
| Player Name | Role | Captaincy Status |
|---|---|---|
| Vaibhav Suryavanshi | All-rounder | Captain |
| Aaron George | All-rounder | Vice-Captain |
| Bedant Trivedi | All-rounder | — |
| Abhigyan Kundu | Wicketkeeper | — |
| Harvansh Singh | Wicketkeeper | — |
| RS Ambarish | Batsman | — |
| Kanisk Chauhan | Batsman | — |
| Khilan Patel | Batsman | — |
| Mohamed Enan | Bowler | — |
| Henil Patel | Bowler | — |
| Dipesh Devendran | Bowler | — |
| Kishan Singh | All-rounder | — |
| Uddhav Mohan | All-rounder | — |
| Yuvraj Gohil | All-rounder | — |
| Rahul Kumar | All-rounder | — |
India’s preparation for the World Cup will include rigorous practice sessions and the South African tour, providing crucial match experience to the youngsters ahead of the global stage. Fans are eagerly awaiting to see how the squad, blending established talents with emerging stars, will perform in the upcoming championship.