India named their 15-member squad for the ICC Men's U19 World Cup 2026 on Saturday (December 27). Ayush Mhatre, who led the team during the recent U19 Asia Cup in the UAE, continues as skipper while Vihaan Malhotra remains as his deputy. The World Cup squad has two changes from the side that played in the Asia Cup.
Yuvraj Gohil and Naman Pushpak are the ones missing out on World Cup spots with RS Ambrish and Mohammed Enaan getting back into the squad for the showpiece event that is co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia. Explosive opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will pair up with his captain at the top of the order with Aaron George taking his customary spot at no.3.
The return of Ambrish and Enaan strengthens the depth of India's squad that has plenty of all-rounders in the mix. With potentially slow and two-paced pitches on offer, especially in Zimbabwe, the spin department may well have to do a lot of work. As will the seamers with the morning starts expected to help the quick bowlers in the first hour or so.
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The 16-team tournament is split into four groups of four teams apiece. India are placed in Group A alongside New Zealand, Bangladesh and USA. Mhatre's boys are set to play all their league games at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. India's clash against USA will be one of the three opening games on the first day of the tournament, January 15.
Co-hosts Zimbabwe will host Scotland at Takashinga Sports Club while Tanzania will face-off with West Indies at Windhoek. Bulawayo and Harare will host the semifinals of the World Cup with the latter also having the privilege of conducting the big final on February 6.
India U19 World Cup 2026 squad: Ayush Mhatre (c), Vihaan Malhotra (vc), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Aaron George, Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), Harvansh Singh (wk), R.S. Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan A. Patel, Mohamed Enaan, Henil Patel, D. Deepesh, Kishan Kumar Singh, Udhav Mohan