Ayush Mhatre to Lead India U19 in Australia Tour

In a defining moment for young Indian cricket, sensation Ayush Mhatre has been appointed the captain of the Indian Under-19 team for their upcoming multi-format tour of Australia, beginning September 21. The announcement, made by the Junior Selection Committee and published on the BCCI website, sets the stage for a series of matches including three one-day games and two multi-day fixtures against the Australian U19 side. Vihaan Malhotra will serve as the vice-captain for the tour.

Recently, the India U19 team competed against England in a highly competitive five-match ODI and a two-match Test series. Despite a rocky start in the ODIs, where Ayush Mhatre managed just 28 runs in five innings, his stellar performance in the Test series where he amassed 340 runs at an average of 85.00, marked him as a standout player. This included blasting centuries and formidable batting that boosted his credentials ahead of the Australian tour.

Among other notable performers, Vihaan Malhotra impressed with his consistent performance, scoring 277 runs in the Test leg. In the ODI series, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi captured attention with his 355 runs, while spinner Kanishk Chouhan showcased his skills with eight wickets. The squad set to face Australia includes promising talents like Vedant Trivedi and Rahul Kumar, injecting youthful energy into the team.

(With inputs from agencies.)