U19 World Cup Captain Ayush Mhatre Meets Virat Kohli at BCCI's Centre of Excellence
A Memorable Encounter
In Bengaluru, Karnataka, Ayush Mhatre, the captain of India's U19 World Cup 2026 winning team, had the opportunity to meet cricket legend Virat Kohli at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence. Mhatre took to social media to share his excitement about the "unforgettable conversation" he had with one of cricket's all-time greats.
Virat Kohli is currently at the Centre of Excellence to undergo fitness assessments in preparation for the upcoming ODI series against England, which kicks off on July 14. He missed the recent home ODI series against Afghanistan due to a hamstring injury sustained during the IPL final, where he scored an impressive 75* to help the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) secure their second consecutive title.
Ayush Mhatre's IPL Journey
Mhatre's IPL 2026 season with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) was cut short due to a hamstring injury as well. At the time of his injury, he was the leading run-scorer for the team, amassing 201 runs in six innings with an average of 33.50 and a strike rate of 177.87, including two half-centuries and a top score of 73.
In List A cricket, Ayush has accumulated 458 runs across seven matches, boasting an impressive average of 65.42, which includes two centuries and a fifty. In T20 formats, he has scored 766 runs in 19 matches at an average of 47.87 and a strike rate of 176.09, featuring two centuries and four fifties. His first-class record includes 660 runs in 13 matches, with two centuries and fifties, averaging 30.00.
U19 World Cup Performance
During the U19 World Cup, Mhatre scored 214 runs in seven matches, averaging 30.57, along with taking seven wickets with his right-arm spin bowling. He expressed his joy on Instagram, stating, "An unforgettable conversation with a legend."
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Virat Kohli's Return to ODI Squad
Kohli's return to the ODI squad for the series against England is contingent on his fitness. Given his history of injuries and his ability to recover swiftly, there is optimism among fans and chief selector Ajit Agarkar that he will be fit to play.
In the IPL, Kohli finished as the fourth-highest run-scorer, leading RCB with 675 runs in 16 innings, averaging 56.25 with a strike rate of 165.84, including a century and five fifties, with a top score of 105*. He is regarded as one of the greatest ODI batsmen, ranking second in all-time runs with 14,797 in 299 innings, averaging 58.71, and holding the record for the most centuries (54) and fifties (77). His highest score in ODIs is 183.
Kohli's ODI Exclusivity
Kohli has transitioned to being an ODI-exclusive player, having retired from T20Is following India's T20 World Cup victory in 2024 and stepping away from Test cricket last May before the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship cycle.
Since last year, he has scored 891 runs in 16 matches at an average of 68.53 and a strike rate of 98.45, including four centuries and five fifties, with a best score of 135. His contributions were pivotal in India's ICC Champions Trophy win last year.
Since becoming an ODI-exclusive player during the Australia tour last year, Kohli has amassed 616 runs in nine matches at an average of 88 and a strike rate of 106.39, featuring three centuries and three fifties. In his latest ODI series against New Zealand, he was the top scorer for India, accumulating 240 runs in three matches at an average of 80.00, including one century and one fifty.