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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced India’s squad for the ACC Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup 2025, appointing Mumbai-born opening batter Ayush Mhatre as captain for the tournament scheduled from December 12 to 21 in Dubai.
India has been placed in a challenging group featuring arch-rivals Pakistan and two qualifier teams, setting the stage for high-intensity youth cricket.
The newly unveiled 15-member squad blends emerging stars with seasoned junior-level performers. Key names include Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Vihaan Malhotra (vice-captain), and Abhigyan Kundu, all of whom bring match experience from domestic and India age-group tours.
Ayush Mhatre: Calm leader trusted to continue India’s youth legacy
18-year-old Ayush Mhatre, regarded as one of the most technically reliable openers in youth cricket, steps into the leadership role after a string of consistent performances. Hailing from Mumbai’s robust cricketing structure, Mhatre has delivered impactful knocks across domestic U19 tournaments and showcased IPL-level temperament in age-group development programs.
Coaches credit his calm personality, tactical maturity, and ability to anchor innings as major reasons behind his elevation. His appointment mirrors India’s long-standing focus on grooming strong leaders early – an approach that previously shaped future seniors like Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. Supporting him is vice-captain Vihaan Malhotra, a wicketkeeper-batter admired for his middle-order stability, sharp glovework, and game awareness.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Vedant Trivedi and others strengthen India’s balanced core
Among the standout players in the squad is Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a stylish left-hander known for his match-winning innings at both junior and India-A youth levels. His performances in the Asia Cup Rising Stars competition have earned him widespread praise, and his ability to adapt under pressure makes him a major asset in India’s top order.
The squad features a well-rounded unit with strong support roles. Vedant Trivedi adds power and balance as a dependable all-rounder, while wicketkeeper Harvansh Singh acts as a reliable backup option. The bowling attack will be spearheaded by Henil Patel and Khilan A. Patel, both recognized for their disciplined spells and wicket-taking abilities.
Promising names such as Naman Pushpak, Aaron George and Udhav Mohan further deepen the bench strength. Kishan Kumar Singh remains under fitness monitoring, and four standby players – Rahul Kumar, Hemchudeshan J, B.K. Kishore, and Aditya Rawat – have been placed on alert for any late changes.
India set for Pakistan clash on December 14
India will kick off their U19 Asia Cup campaign on December 12 against a qualifier at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai. However, the marquee fixture arrives two days later when India face Pakistan on December 14, a clash that traditionally draws massive fan attention at both senior and junior levels.
With the semi-finals set for December 19 and the final scheduled on December 21, the tournament is viewed as a key preparatory platform ahead of the 2025 Under-19 World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia. Talent scouts and national selectors will closely monitor performances as India looks to identify the next generation of stars.
India squad for the Under-19 Asia Cup 2025
Ayush Mhatre (c), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Vihaan Malhotra (vc), 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.
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