Ayush Mhatre to Captain India in Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup in Dubai

India’s Under-19 cricket team is set to be captained by Ayush Mhatre at the upcoming ACC Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in Dubai starting December 12. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled a robust 15-member squad for the tournament, which also features aggressive opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Vihaan Malhotra has been appointed as Mhatre’s vice-captain.

Ayush Mhatre’s Recent Performance

While Mhatre has shown glimpses of his potential in the past, his recent form has been inconsistent. He notably made a mark in IPL 2025, stepping in for Ruturaj Gaikwad and scoring 240 runs across seven matches at an impressive strike rate near 189. However, his performance in subsequent series has raised concerns.

On the England tour, Mhatre managed only 27 runs in four one-day matches, but he rebounded impressively as the top-scorer in the two Youth Tests, amassing 340 runs. His form dipped again during the Australian tour, where he scored just 10 runs in three one-day games and 38 runs in Youth Tests against Australia Under-19. Overall, in four first-class matches this season, including a game for India A against South Africa A, he accumulated just 156 runs at an average of 26. In a recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Railways, Mhatre added another 18 runs to his tally.

Tournament Structure and Expectations

The ACC Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup will be contested in a one-day format. India finds itself in Group A alongside Pakistan and two qualifiers, while Group B consists of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and another qualifier. The Indian squad will kick off their campaign on December 12, facing one of the two qualifiers to be determined.

India’s Squad for the Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup

The official roster includes the following players:

• Ayush Mhatre (captain)
• Vaibhav Suryavanshi
• Vihaan Malhotra (vice-captain)
• Vedant Trivedi
• Abhigyan Kundu (wicketkeeper)
• Harvansh Singh (wicketkeeper)
• Yuvraj Gohil
• Kanishk Chouhan
• Khilan A. Patel
• Naman Pushpak
• D. Deepesh
• Henil Patel
• Kishan Kumar Singh (subject to fitness clearance)
• Udhav Mohan
• Aaron George

Standby Players

The standby list includes:

• Rahul Kumar
• Hemchudeshan J
• B.K. Kishore
• Aditya Rawat

As India aims for success in the Asia Cup, the leadership of Ayush Mhatre will be crucial in harnessing the talent of this young squad. The tournament presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the players to showcase their skills on an esteemed platform.

Published on 1764319503 • Category: Cricket