The Junior Cricket Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the India Under-19 squads for the upcoming tour of South Africa and the ICC Men's Under-19 World Cup 2026. Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been named captain for the three-match One Day International (ODI) series against South Africa, while Ayush Mhatre will lead the team in the World Cup. The World Cup is scheduled to be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6, 2026.

The three-match ODI series in South Africa will be held from January 3 to January 7 at Willowmoore Park in Benoni. Suryavanshi's appointment as captain for the South Africa tour has garnered attention, considering his age and impressive performances in domestic cricket. The selectors have expressed their confidence in his leadership abilities by entrusting him with the captaincy.

Mhatre, the regular captain, will miss the South Africa tour due to a wrist injury. Vihaan Malhotra, the vice-captain for the World Cup, will also be absent from the South Africa series due to a similar injury. Both Mhatre and Malhotra will undergo injury management at the BCCI Centre of Excellence before rejoining the squad for the World Cup.

The India U19 team is aiming to bounce back after finishing as runners-up in the Asia Cup in the UAE. The series against South Africa will serve as crucial preparation for the World Cup.

The ICC Men's Under-19 World Cup 2026 will feature 16 teams divided into four groups, followed by a Super Six stage, semi-finals, and a final in Harare. India, a five-time champion (2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, and 2022), is placed in Group B alongside New Zealand, the USA, and Bangladesh. India will begin their World Cup campaign against the USA on January 15 at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. They will then face Bangladesh on January 17 and New Zealand on January 24 at the same venue.

The India U19 squad for the South Africa tour is as follows: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (C), Aaron George (VC), Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), Harvansh Singh (wk), R.S. Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan A. Patel, Mohamed Enaan, Henil Patel, D. Deepesh, Kishan Kumar Singh, Udhav Mohan, Yuvraj Gohil, Rahul Kumar.

The India U19 squad for the ICC Men's U19 World Cup 2026 is as follows: Ayush Mhatre (C), Vihaan Malhotra (VC), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Aaron George, Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), Harvansh Singh (wk), R.S. Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan A. Patel, Mohamed Enaan, Henil Patel, D. Deepesh, Kishan Kumar Singh, Udhav Mohan.