The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed CSK’s Ayush Mhatre as captain of the India Under-19 cricket team for the upcoming ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026. The tournament will be played in Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6, 2026, and India, as one of the five-time champions, will begin their campaign against the USA before facing Bangladesh and New Zealand in Group B.
Mhatre to continue leading India in U-19
This leadership call reflects the board’s faith in Mhatre’s potential and ability to marshal a youthful batting lineup on cricket’s biggest stage for junior players. The 18-year-old right-handed batter from Mumbai has already carved out attention in domestic circles and youth cricket, making his transition from promising talent to team leader a key storyline for Indian cricket in 2026.
Mhatre’s appointment follows a busy domestic season and mixed results for India in Under-19 cricket. The youngster had led India in the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup 2025 earlier this winter, but the campaign ended in disappointment. India collapsed for 156 in the final against Pakistan and lost by 191 runs, prompting discussions within the board about the team’s performance and leadership.
Mhatre struggling for form
Across five Asia Cup matches, his own personal return with the bat was underwhelming. In the series, he scored just 65 runs in five innings at an average of 13.00, reflecting a dip in form that added to scrutiny over his leadership during pressure situations
Prior to that, Mhatre had shown glimpses of class. In earlier youth fixtures he featured among strong performers, often anchoring India’s top order. But the Asia Cup, played in challenging conditions in Dubai, brought inconsistency and raised questions about his capacity to convert starts into big contributions.
Despite those recent struggles, selectors have shown confidence in Mhatre’s overall ability. His leadership was backed even as young batting phenom Vaibhav Sooryavanshi starred with big runs in the tournament and remained a key member of the squad.
Mhatre’s elevation to captain for the World Cup suggests the board believes in his long-term growth curve. India’s junior setup has a track record of nurturing leaders who thrive under pressure, and this assignment could be the catalyst for Mhatre to rediscover form. With more high-level exposure and time to settle into the leadership role, there is clear hope he can shed recent rust and lead India deep into the 2026 World Cup.
For now, the message from the BCCI is simple: trust the process, and back a young leader to respond when it matters most.
