Ayush Mhatre to Captain India U19 Team on Australia Tour

Ayush Mhatre has been selected to captain the Indian Under-19 cricket team for their upcoming tour of Australia, starting September 21. The squad will compete in three ODIs and two multi-day matches. Mhatre's recent performances, including impressive scores in both ODIs and Tests against England, highlight his potential as a rising star in cricket. Vihaan Malhotra will serve as vice-captain. The article details the squad composition and standout players from recent series, making it a must-read for cricket enthusiasts.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 31, 2025, 02:04 IST

Ayush Mhatre Leads India U19 Squad for Australia Tour

New Delhi, July 30: Rising cricket star Ayush Mhatre has been appointed as the captain of the Indian Under-19 team for their upcoming multi-format tour of Australia, commencing on September 21. This announcement comes from the Junior Selection Committee, as detailed on the BCCI website.

The Indian U19 team is scheduled to compete in three one-day matches and two multi-day games against their Australian counterparts. Vihaan Malhotra will serve as the vice-captain.

Recently, the U19 squad faced England in a five-match ODI series and a two-match Test series, where they clinched the ODI series 3-2, while the Test series concluded in a draw.

Ayush Mhatre, hailing from Mumbai, made a significant impact during his debut season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), where he captained the team in both formats.

Despite scoring only 28 runs in five ODI innings, with a top score of 21, Mhatre excelled in the Test series, amassing 340 runs in four innings at an impressive average of 85.00 and a strike rate exceeding 103, including two centuries and a fifty.

In the first Test, he scored 102 and 32 runs, while the second Test saw him achieve a remarkable 126 runs off just 80 balls, hitting 13 fours and six sixes. His century in 64 balls ranks as the third-fastest in U19 Test history, following Moeen Ali and Vaibhav Suryavanshi.

During the Test series, pacer Aditya Rawat led the bowling attack for India, taking six wickets at an average of 24.00, with best figures of 4/80.

Vihaan Malhotra also shone in the Test matches, scoring 277 runs across four innings at an average of 69.25, which included a century (123 in the second Test) and two half-centuries, along with contributing three wickets.

In the ODI series, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi topped the batting charts with 355 runs in five innings at an average of 71.00 and a strike rate above 174, featuring a century and a fifty. Vihaan Malhotra also made notable contributions with 243 runs at an average of 48.60, including a century.

Among the bowlers, spinner Kanishk Chouhan emerged as a standout performer, sharing the title of leading wicket-taker with eight wickets in five matches at an average of 21.12, with best figures of 3/20.

The India U19 squad includes: Ayush Mhatre (C), Vihaan Malhotra (VC), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Vedant Trivedi, Rahul Kumar, Abhigyan Kundu (WK), Harvansh Singh (WK), R S Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Naman Pushpak, Henil Patel, D Deepesh, Kishan Kumar, Anmoljeet Singh, Khilan Patel, Udhav Mohan, Aman Chauhan.

Standby players are Yudhajit Guha, Laxman, B.K. Kishore, Alankrith Rapole, and Arnav Bugga.