Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been named in India’s squad for the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026 and has been handed captaincy duties of the team for the preceding tour of South Africa next month, the BCCI confirmed on Saturday.
The 14-year-old Sooryavanshi, an integral part of the Rajasthan Royals setup, will be part of the 15-member Indian squad, which will represent the country at the U-19 World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia, which begins on January 15.
Regular U19 captain Ayush Mhatre will lead India at the World Cup, with Vihaan Malhotra as his deputy.
Sooryavanshi, meanwhile, will lead India in a three-match Youth ODI series against South Africa, scheduled to be played in Benoni on January 3, 5 and 7, prior to the World Cup campaign.
The teenager was handed the responsibility to lead the team as both Mhatre and Malhotra will miss the South Africa series due to wrist injuries and are scheduled to directly link up with the squad for the World Cup.
The inclusion in the World Cup and the captaincy role in the South Africa series underlines Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s meteoric rise this year.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is set to finish 2025 as India’s leading run-scorer in Youth ODIs.
He smashed 690 runs at an average of 57.50 and a strike rate of 160.09, striking two centuries and two half-centuries, while also leading the global six-hitting charts with 55 maximums in YODI cricket.
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Earlier this week, Sooryavanshi produced another headline-grabbing performance, smashing 190 off just 84 balls to become the youngest centurion in List A cricket.
The innings also saw him become the fastest player to score 150 in men’s List A cricket, surpassing Protea legend AB de Villiers.
Already vice-captain of Bihar in senior domestic cricket across formats, Sooryavanshi had a record-breaking IPL debut campaign with Rajasthan Royals earlier this year, becoming the youngest player and centurion in the competition’s history.
His 35-ball ton against Gujarat Titans is also the fastest IPL century by an Indian and the second-fastest overall.
What followed was a historic run across formats and age groups. He slammed 144 off 42 balls against the UAE to record the fastest century ever scored in Youth ODIs.
Earlier this month, he hit 108 off 61 balls for Bihar in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, becoming the youngest centurion in the tournament’s history.
Sooryavanshi’s meteoric rise has transcended the field as well. He was the most-searched Indian on Google this year and sixth overall globally, while Instagram recently spotlighted his journey on its official page - an honour previously accorded to only one other Indian cricketer, Virat Kohli.
The upcoming U19 World Cup will feature 16 teams divided into four groups, followed by the Super Six stage, semi-finals and final in Harare.
Five-time champions India have been placed in Group B alongside New Zealand, the USA and Bangladesh.
India will open their campaign against the USA on January 15 at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, followed by matches against Bangladesh on January 17 and New Zealand on January 24.
Indian cricket squad for South Africa YODI 2026 series
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (C), Aaron George (VC), Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), Harvansh Singh (wk), RS Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan A Patel, Mohamed Enaan, Henil Patel, D Deepesh, Kishan Kumar Singh, Udhav Mohan, Yuvraj Gohil, Rahul Kumar.
Indian cricket squad for U-19 World Cup 2026
Ayush Mhatre (C), Vihaan Malhotra (VC), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Aaron George, Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (WK), Harvansh Singh (WK), RS Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan A Patel, Mohamed Enaan, Henil Patel, D Deepesh, Kishan Kumar Singh, Udhav Mohan.
