Mumbai opener Ayush Mhatre will lead India at the Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup, which starts in Dubai on 12 December. The BCCI confirmed a 15-strong squad on Thursday, installing wicketkeeper-batter Vihaan Malhotra as vice-captain and recalling aggressive top-order partner Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
India have been drawn in Group A alongside Pakistan and two qualifying sides still to be decided. Group B features Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and another qualifier. Mhatre’s team open their campaign on the tournament’s first day against one of the qualifiers, with the final scheduled for 22 December.
Recent form
Mhatre’s selection comes at an interesting moment. After a lively IPL stint with Chennai Super Kings in 2025 – 240 runs off just 127 balls, strike-rate nearly 189 – his returns have dipped. He managed only 27 runs in four one-dayers on the England youth tour, then roared back with 340 in the two Youth Tests. A lean tour of Australia followed: 10 runs in three one-dayers, 38 across two Youth Tests. Domestically, four first-class fixtures have yielded 156 runs at 26, plus an 18 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
The selectors, though, clearly value his leadership and potential on quicker pitches. A short Asia Cup, played in 50-over format, offers space for a fresh run.
Squad balance
Suryavanshi’s inclusion adds power-play firepower. He and Mhatre have opened together for Mumbai age-groups and give India a left-right option. Malhotra, tidy with the gloves and solid through mid-wicket, is likely to bat in the middle order.
The attack is seam-heavy: Udhav Mohan and Aaron George (subject to fitness) head the pace group, while left-arm spinner Kishan Kumar Singh provides control through the middle overs. Stand-bys Rahul Kumar, Hemchudeshan J, B.K. Kishore and Aditya Rawat travel only if injuries intervene.
What’s at stake?
India have won eight of the nine Under-19 Asia Cups held so far. A ninth title would rebuild momentum towards next year’s Under-19 World Cup, where consistency over three weeks will matter more than bursts of brilliance.
Mhatre’s challenge is straightforward: rediscover his touch, set sharp fields and keep a talented but still-raw squad aligned. If he clicks, India’s path to the knockout rounds should remain familiar. If the recent inconsistency lingers, a tight group featuring Pakistan could become complicated quickly. Either way, the next fortnight in Dubai will provide clarity.
India squad: Ayush Mhatre (capt), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Vihaan Malhotra (vice-capt), Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), Harvansh Singh (wk), Yuvraj Gohil, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan A. Patel, Naman Pushpak, D. Deepesh, Henil Patel, Kishan Kumar Singh, Udhav Mohan, Aaron George
*Subject to fitness
Stand-by players: Rahul Kumar, Hemchudeshan J, B.K. Kishore, Aditya Rawat
