India U19 Squad Announced for South Africa Tour & ICC U19 World Cup 2026

India’s latest India U19 squad announcement sets up a busy start to 2026, with separate captains named for the South Africa one-day series and the ICC Men's U19 World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia, as the Junior Cricket Committee finalises plans following the recent Asia Cup campaign in the UAE.

The Junior Cricket Committee selected the India U19 squad for a three-match one-day tour of South Africa and the ICC Men's U19 World Cup, which will run from January 15 across Zimbabwe and Namibia, confirming different leadership roles for Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre across the two events.

India U19 squad leadership and South Africa tour details

For the South Africa leg, Vaibhav Suryavanshi will captain the India U19 squad, with Aaron George serving as vice-captain, as the team travels soon after finishing runners-up to Pakistan in the Asia Cup in the UAE, giving young players quick exposure to foreign pitches and conditions.

The South Africa series features three one-day matches at Willowmoore Park in Benoni, scheduled between January 3 and 7, and Suryavanshi steps up from vice-captain of the white-ball side to lead the team, while Mhatre misses the tour due to a wrist injury that requires further management.

India U19 squad injuries and World Cup plans

Vihaan Malhotra has also been ruled out of the South Africa leg with a wrist issue, and both Malhotra and Mhatre will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for treatment and monitoring, before they are expected to rejoin the India U19 squad in time for the ICC Men's U19 World Cup.

During the World Cup, Mhatre will resume the captaincy of the India U19 squad, with Malhotra installed as vice-captain, while Suryavanshi and George stay part of the core group, keeping continuity between the South Africa series and the showpiece event across Zimbabwe and Namibia.

The ICC Men's U19 World Cup will feature 16 teams split into four groups, followed by the Super Six stage, then semi-finals and a final in Harare, with India placed in Group B alongside New Zealand, USA and Bangladesh as five-time champions from 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018 and 2022.

India begin their World Cup campaign against USA on January 15 at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, then play Bangladesh on January 17 at the same venue, before facing New Zealand on January 24, aiming to secure early momentum from a group that mixes emerging and experienced age-group opponents.

The India U19 squad for the South Africa tour consists of Suryavanshi as captain, George as vice-captain, batters and all-rounders Vedant Trivedi, R.S. Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan A. Patel, Mohamed Enaan, Henil Patel, D. Deepesh, Kishan Kumar Singh, Udhav Mohan, Yuvraj Gohil, Rahul Kumar, plus wicketkeepers Abhigyan Kundu and Harvansh Singh.

For the ICC Men's U19 World Cup 2026, the India U19 squad includes captain Mhatre, vice-captain Malhotra, Suryavanshi, George, Trivedi, Kundu, Singh, Ambrish, Chouhan, Khilan A. Patel, Enaan, Henil Patel, Deepesh, Kishan Kumar Singh and Udhav Mohan, keeping almost the entire touring core intact for the bigger tournament.

With five previous titles and a strong India U19 squad spread across the South Africa tour and the World Cup, the selectors have kept core players together while managing injuries, giving the group time in foreign conditions before chasing another trophy in Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15.