Ayush Mhatre has been named captain of the Indian Under-19 cricket team for its upcoming tour of Australia, beginning September 21. The young side will play three one-day matches followed by two multi-day games against Australia’s U-19 team, marking another key step in preparation for the next U-19 World Cup cycle.
The squad, led by Mhatre, travels with confidence after a successful tour of England earlier this summer. India clinched the Youth ODI series 3-2, while the two-match Youth Test series ended in a hard-fought stalemate at 0-0. Mhatre was a standout performer in England, finishing as the leading run-scorer in the Test series across both sides. His tally of 340 runs in four innings, built on two centuries and a half-century, highlighted his consistency and maturity at the crease.
If Mhatre dominated the longer format, it was 14-year-old sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi who lit up the ODIs. The prodigy scored 355 runs in the five-match series and smashed the fastest recorded century in Youth ODI history, cementing his reputation as one of India’s brightest batting talents.
Vice-captain Vihaan Malhotra also proved his worth on English soil. He contributed significantly in both formats, scoring 243 runs in the ODIs and 277 in the Tests, maintaining impressive averages throughout. His steady presence provides additional stability to India’s top order heading into the Australia series.
The touring squad includes a blend of proven performers and promising newcomers. Wicketkeepers Abhigyan Kundu and Harvansh Singh provide depth behind the stumps, while the batting core is strengthened by Vedant Trivedi, Rahul Kumar, and Naman Pushpak. The bowling group features R.S. Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Henil Patel, and Kishan Kumar, with all-rounders like Anmoljeet Singh and Aman Chauhan offering balance. Five standby players — Yudhajit Guha, Laxman, B.K. Kishore, Alankrith Rapole, and Arnav Bugga — have also been named.
The fixtures will be staged across two venues. The one-day matches will be played on September 21, 24, and 26 at Norths, followed by the first multi-day game starting September 30, also at Norths. The tour will conclude with a second multi-day contest in Mackay from October 7.
With recent form, a talented squad, and a strong leadership group in Mhatre and Malhotra, India will look to replicate its success in England and test itself against a traditionally tough Australian U-19 side on home soil.
