New Delhi: Fourteen-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been appointed captain of the Indian Under-19 team for the upcoming South Africa tour. However, Ayush Mhatre will lead the side in the Under-19 World Cup. Mhatre has been ruled out of the South Africa tour due to injury.
The BCCI on Saturday announced India’s squads for the South Africa tour and the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup. The board named Vihan Malhotra as vice-captain for the World Cup, but he too will miss the South Africa tour because of injury.
India’s Under-19 team will begin its South Africa tour on January 3, where it will play three One Day matches. The team will then take part in the Under-19 World Cup, to be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15.
India will begin its World Cup campaign against the USA on January 15. The team will face Bangladesh on January 17 and New Zealand on January 24.
Why two captains were named
In a press release, the BCCI said that regular captain Ayush Mhatre and vice-captain Vihan Malhotra have sustained wrist injuries and are unavailable for the South Africa tour. Both players will report to the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence for treatment and rehabilitation and will rejoin the squad for the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup.
India placed in Group B
The ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup will feature 16 teams, divided into four groups, followed by the Super Six stage, semi-finals and final. The final will be played in Harare.
Five-time champions India, who have won the title in 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018 and 2022, have been placed in Group B along with New Zealand, USA and Bangladesh.
