The Board of Control for Cricket in India has named the Indian team for the upcoming U19 World Cup, to be played in 2026 in Namibia and Zimbabwe. Ayush Mhatre has been named as captain for the World Cup, while
Vihaan Malhotra will deputize the Indian team.
But ahead of the World Cup, 14-year-old wonderkid Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is set to make his debut as India U19 captain in the South Africa ODI series.
Prior to the World Cup, India will play against the Proteas in a three-match ODI series in Benoni, and Sooryavanshi has been named captain for the tour. Vihaan and Ayush both are also set to miss the tour, as BCCI confirmed the duo have suffered ankle injuries.
It has been reported that the two players, sidelined by ongoing wrist injuries, will sit out the South Africa tour. They are expected to head to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for continued injury care before linking up with the squad ahead of the ICC Men's Under-19 World Cup.
In the U19 World Cup, India have been grouped with USA, New Zealand and Bangladesh as they aim to win their 6th crown.
India's squad for South Africa tour
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (C), Aaron George (VC), Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), Harvansh Singh (wk), R.S. Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan A. Patel, Mohamed Enaan, Henil Patel, Devendran Deepesh, Kishan Kumar Singh, Udhav Mohan, Yuvraj Gohil, Rahul Kumar
