Vihaan Malhotra set to lead India in U-19 World Cup:BCCI announce 15-member squad for ICC mega event; tournament starts on 15 Jan in Zimbabwe

The Junior Cricket Committee has announced India’s Under-19 squad for the upcoming three-match One-Day series against South Africa, followed by the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup, which will be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia from 15 January to 6 February 2026. The global tournament will feature 16 teams, divided into four groups, with the competition progressing through the Super Six stage, semi-finals, and the final, all scheduled to be played in Harare. Five-time champions India, who have lifted the U19 World Cup in 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018 and 2022, have been drawn in Group B alongside New Zealand, the USA, and Bangladesh. India will open their campaign against the USA on 15 January at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, before facing Bangladesh at the same venue on 17 January. Their final group-stage match will be against New Zealand on 24 January. This is a developing story