CSK’s Ayush Mhatre Set to Lead India in 2025 U-19 Asia Cup

Ayush Mhatre had played for India U-19 in the 2024 Asia Cup, scoring 176 runs across five matches at an average of 44, including two half-centuries.

CSK’s Ayush Mhatre Set to Lead India in 2025 U-19 Asia Cup

CSK star Ayush Mhatre has been named Indian U-19 captain for upcoming U-19 Asia Cup. (via Inside Sport)

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Chennai Super Kings prodigy Ayush Mhatre has been named captain of the India U-19 side, for the upcoming Men’s U-19 Asia Cup. It will be first major assignment as skipper in a multi-team tournament, after having previously led the U-19 side in tours to England and Australia. 

The 2025 U-19 Asia Cup is set to get underway on December 12. Team India, which stands as the most successful side in U-19 Asia Cup history with eight titles to its name, has been clubbed alongside arch-rivals Pakistan in Group A. Meanwhile, Group B features defending champions Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka. The matches will be played at the ICC Academy Ground and Sevens Stadium, in Dubai.

India had made it to the final of the 2024 edition, but disappointingly lost to Bangladesh, where they fell 59 runs short of the 199-run chase. The BCCI-appointed Junior Cricket Selection Committee, in the run-up to the 2025 Under-19 Asia Cup, which will feature the next generation of cricketing talents, announced a 15-member squad for the tournament, alongside three reserve players.

The team will be led by the flamboyant Ayush Mhatre, with Vihaan Malhotra as his deputy. The Mumbai-born batter will be leading the Indian U-19 side for the third time, after having previously led the team in multi-format tours to England and Australia. Mhatre burst onto the scene with his display in the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he scored 458 runs in just seven innings at an average of 65.43, displaying his batting prowess.

Mhatre’s was later called up by Chennai Super Kings, midway through the 2025 IPL season, as an injury replacement for captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. The right-hander stood up again, scoring 240 runs in seven matches at an average of 34.29 and a strike-rate of 188.98.

Since then, he has guided the Indian U-19 side to six ODI and two Test victories as captain. Mhatre also earned his maiden India ‘A’ call-up for an unofficial Test against South Africa ‘A’, where he impressed by scoring 71 runs.

Mhatre will be joined by the 14-year-old prodigy and the IPL’s youngest centurion, Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Both openers were a part of the 2024 Asia Cup U-19 squad, and will be looking to extend their winning run ahead of the 2026 U-19 World Cup, to be played in Zimbabwe and Namibia. 

Ayush Mhatre announces his return to form with a 49-ball hundred for Mumbai in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

Just hours after being named skipper of the Indian U-19 squad for the Asia Cup, Mumbai’s Ayush Mhatre announced his return to form with a hundred in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His knock helped the defending SMAT champions chase down a 193-run target, against Vidarbha. 

Ayush Mhatre 100 SMAT
Ayush Mhatre scored a remarkable hundred for Mumbai in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. (via ESPN Cricinfo)

Batting first, Vidarbha got off to a good start, thanks to a brilliant 115-run opening stand between Atharva Taide and Aman Mokhade. At one point, it seemed that Vidarbha was racing to a 200+ total, until Mumbai struck back, with the bowlers picking up crucial wickets to restrict their opponents to 192/9. Shivam Dube and Sairaj Patil scalped three wickets each, while Atharva Ankolekar picked up a two-wicket haul.

For a star-studded Mumbai side, the chase did not seem easy, following Ajinkya Rahane’s early dismissal. However, Ayush Mhatre held on, remaining unbeaten on 110 runs off just 53 balls. He hit eight fours and as many sixes to help his team over the line, with seven wickets in hand. Mhatre added 85 runs for the fourth wicket with CSK teammate Shivam Dube, who finished with 39 runs off 19 balls. 

In another part of the country, Mhatre’s U-19 teammate Vaibhav Suryavanshi had a poor outing in Bihar’s encounter against Madhya Pradesh. Suryavanshi got dismissed for just 13 runs off nine balls, as he saw his side fail to chase down a target of 175 runs in Kolkata.

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