Ayush Mhatre to Captain India U-19 on Tour of Australia
The tour of Australia will include three Youth ODIs and two four-day Youth Tests, offering young Indian talents the chance to prove their mettle in overseas conditions. All eyes will be on Mhatre, who impressed both with the bat and as a tactician during India’s victorious campaign in England, where the team clinched the ODI series 3-2 and drew both Youth Tests.
Mhatre was India’s standout performer in the England series, scoring over 340 runs in just four innings, including two centuries and a quick-fire fifty. His ability to adapt to foreign pitches and lead by example with the bat has earned him the trust of the selectors, who see him as a future senior team prospect.
Joining him in the leadership group is Vihaan Malhotra, who has been named the vice-captain for the tour. Malhotra replaces Abhigyan Kundu, who remains part of the squad but will focus on his role as a wicketkeeper-batter. The team will continue to feature Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the 14-year-old prodigy whose batting heroics in England caught the attention of cricket lovers worldwide.
Suryavanshi was the highest run-scorer in the ODI series against England, tallying 355 runs in five games and showing a maturity far beyond his years. He also holds the record for the fastest Youth Test century by an Indian, achieved against Australia in 2024 during a home series.
The selection committee has kept faith in the core unit from the England tour while also introducing fresh faces like Kishan Kumar, Aman Chauhan, and Udhav Mohan. Khilan Patel, who missed the England tour due to injury, returns to bolster the bowling attack. D. Deepesh and Naman Pushpak, who impressed as standbys in England, have also been included in the main squad.
The Youth ODIs will be played on September 21, 24, and 26 at the Ian Healy Oval in Brisbane, followed by two four-day matches—one at Brisbane and the other in Mackay from October 7 to 10.
The tour is seen as a critical step in India’s preparations for future U-19 World Cup campaigns. Conditions in Australia will test both the temperament and technique of these young players, especially on faster and bouncier tracks.
Speaking on Mhatre’s appointment, a BCCI official stated, “Ayush has shown exceptional promise as a leader and a player. His hunger to perform and lead under pressure makes him the ideal choice to take this young squad forward in challenging overseas conditions.”
As the team prepares to fly to Australia, there’s growing optimism that under Mhatre’s leadership, India’s U-19 squad will continue its legacy of success and unearth the next generation of international stars.