India U19 Team Set to Begin ICC World Cup Journey Against USA

India U19 Team Aims for Sixth World Cup Title

The India Under-19 cricket team is set to launch its quest for a record sixth ICC U19 World Cup title against the USA in Bulawayo on Thursday, led by captain Ayush Mhatre.

After suffering a 79-run defeat to Australia in the 2024 U19 World Cup final, where Mahli Beardman’s impressive bowling (3/15) limited India to 174 runs while chasing 254, the team is eager for redemption. Meanwhile, Australia, captained by Oliver Peake, seeks to equal India's title count with a fifth championship win.

The tournament is scheduled from January 15 to February 6, co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia.

In the lead-up to this World Cup, the Indian squad has achieved remarkable success, winning 16 out of 21 Youth ODIs, resulting in an impressive win percentage of over 76. They boast the best win-loss ratio of 3.2 as they enter the tournament.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a standout batter, has amassed 973 runs in Youth ODIs at an average of 54.05, including three centuries and four fifties, with a top score of 171 and a strike rate exceeding 164, making him a key player to watch.

On the bowling front, Kanishk Chauhan leads with 22 wickets in 15 matches at an average of 24.13, achieving best figures of 3/20. Additionally, right-arm pacer Deepesh Devendran has claimed 15 wickets in 10 matches, averaging 27.86 with best figures of 3/16.

India U19 has excelled in five out of six series leading to the World Cup, including a clean sweep against Australia at home and a competitive 3-2 victory over England in the UK, alongside a 3-0 series win in South Africa.

However, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Under-19 Asia Cups have posed challenges for India, with losses to Pakistan and Bangladesh in the finals of the last two editions. This raises questions about the team's performance under pressure.

Key Indian batters heading into the tournament include:

- Vaibhav Suryavanshi: 973 runs in 18 matches, averaging 54.05 with a strike rate over 164, including three centuries and four fifties.

- Vihaan Malhotra: 511 runs in 12 matches, averaging 46.45 with a strike rate of 100, featuring one century and three fifties.

- Abhigyan Kundu: 494 runs in 15 matches, averaging 54.88 with a strike rate over 102, including three fifties.

Top bowlers for India include:

- Kanishk Chauhan: 22 wickets in 15 matches, averaging 24.13 with best figures of 3/20.

- Deepesh Devendran: 15 wickets in 10 matches, averaging 27.86 with best figures of 3/16.

- Kishan Singh: 14 wickets in eight matches, averaging 20.28 with best figures of 4/46.

India U19 World Cup 2026 squad includes: Ayush Mhatre (c), Vihaan Malhotra (vc), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Aaron George, Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), Harvansh Singh (wk), R.S. Ambrish, Kanishk Chauhan, Khilan A. Patel, Mohamed Enaan, Henil Patel, D. Deepesh, Kishan Kumar Singh, Udhav Mohan.