While the monsoon clouds may be settling over the Indian sub-continent, for a small group of teenagers, the horizon is clear. The BCCI has released the India U-19 squad for their tour of England, from June 24th to July 23rd, 2025. Along with an exciting cricket tour, players can expect life changing experiences, as they begin to make names for themselves in India’s next crop of stars.
The Squad
| S. No. | Player Name | Role | Notable Background/Story |
| 1. | Ayush Mhatre (Captain) | Opener | IPL debut for CSK; Mumbai prodigy; led with maturity at just 17. |
| 2. | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | Opener | 14-year-old sensation; youngest IPL centurion; Bihar’s pride; explosive left-hander. |
| 3. | Vihaan Malhotra | Batter | Consistent run-getter in domestic U-19 tournaments. |
| 4. | Maulyarajsinh Chavda | Batter | Known for his calm temperament under pressure. |
| 5. | Rahul Kumar | All-rounder | Versatile performer, handy with both bat and ball. |
| 6. | Abhigyan Kundu (VC/WK) | Wicketkeeper-batter | Mumbai’s rising star; idolizes Tendulkar, Lara, Dhoni; NCA standout. |
| 7. | Harvansh Singh (WK) | Wicketkeeper-batter | Agile behind the stumps; reliable finisher. |
| 8. | R S Ambrish | Bowler | Tall pacer, known for extracting bounce. |
| 9. | Kanishk Chouhan | Bowler | Left-arm spinner with a knack for breakthroughs. |
| 10. | Khilan Patel | Batter | Gujarat’s consistent youth performer. |
| 11. | Henil Patel | All-rounder | Strong lower-order hitter and handy off-spinner. |
| 12. | Yudhajit Guha | Bowler | Bengal’s promising fast bowler. |
| 13. | Pranav Raghavendra | Batter | Karnataka’s technically sound opener. |
| 14. | Mohammed Enaan | Bowler | Swing bowler, lethal in English conditions. |
| 15. | Aditya Rana | Bowler | Delhi’s pace prospect, sharp with the new ball. |
| 16. | Anmoljeet Singh | All-rounder | Punjab’s utility player excels in crunch moments. |
Standby Players: Naman Pushpak, D Deepesh, Vedant Trivedi, Vikalp Tiwari, Alankrith Rapole (WK).
Beyond the Numbers
Every squad announcement is more than a list; it’s a tapestry of dreams, hard work, and family sacrifices. This year’s selection is no different, brimming with narratives that inspire.
- Ayush Mhatre, the captain, is a Mumbai opener who caught the nation’s eye when he stepped up for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s injury. His 206 runs in six matches, including a composed 94, signaled a temperament beyond his years. For Ayush, who grew up idolizing local legends at Shivaji Park, this tour is a chance to lead from the front and shape his legacy.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the headline act. At just 14, the Bihar-born left-hander became the youngest player to score a century in IPL history, smashing a 35-ball hundred and finishing the season with a strike rate of 206.56.His journey from Tajpur village to the Rajasthan Royals’ dressing room is the stuff of modern folklore—a story of a father’s belief, rural cricket academies, and a boy who dared to dream big. Vaibhav’s fearless batting, honed in the dusty grounds of Samastipur, now faces the ultimate test: English swing and seaming conditions.
- Abhigyan Kundu is the vice-captain and wicketkeeper, and carries the essence of Mumbai cricket: resilient and aspiring to relentlessly better themselves. Having idolized Names like Tendulkar, Lara, Sehwag, and Dhoni in the past, Kundu’s development has included high-performance camps for the National Cricket Academy, from which he enjoyed big runs and being able to perform in pressure situations. For Kundu, this tour marks the next step to make his mark as a future captain.
What This Tour Means
The month-long English sojourn is more than a cricketing assignment—it’s a rite of passage. The itinerary includes a 50-over practice game, a five-match Youth ODI series, and two multi-day red-ball fixtures against England U-19. For these teenagers, it’s the first taste of international travel, foreign conditions, and the weight of national expectation.
For some, like Ayush and Vaibhav, it’s about living up to early hype. For others, it’s a chance to break out, to be the next name on every fan’s lips. For all, it’s about learning, growing, and returning home not just as better cricketers, but as young men ready for the challenges ahead.
As the squad boards their flight to England, they carry with them not just pads and bats, but the hopes of a billion cricket lovers—and the promise that the future of Indian cricket is in safe, ambitious hands.
Written By Smita Singh
