What’s next for Vaibhav and Ayush?:How long will the U-19 World Cup talent pool serve Indian cricket, like Kohli and Yuvraj?

The team that won the title under Mohammad Kaif’s captaincy in 2000 also included Yuvraj Singh. Later, several players such as Virat Kohli, Manish Pandey and current Indian Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill emerged from Under-19 World Cup–winning teams. This time, the Indian Under-19 cricket team, led by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre, won the World Cup for the sixth time. At just 14 years and 8 months, Vaibhav was named both Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament — a first in the history of the Under-19 World Cup. How strong will this title make Indian cricket’s talent pool? Will players like Vaibhav become the next big cricket stars? We explain. How much stronger does this win make Indian cricket’s talent pool? The BCCI begins tracking players for the senior international team from a very young age. Performances in tournaments like the Vijay Merchant Trophy for Under-16 boys are closely monitored. Success at the Under-19 level strengthens India’s domestic structure, pushing quality players into competitions such as the Ranji Trophy. These players also receive advanced coaching at the National Cricket Academy, and many eventually make it to the senior international team. Between 2016 and 2019, Rahul Dravid coached the Under-19 team and introduced a rule allowing players to feature in only one Under-19 World Cup, thereby providing more opportunities for youngsters. The rule still applies, meaning most players from this squad will now move on to other leagues and tournaments. Two of the 15 players in the current squad have already played IPL 2025, while four are expected to feature in IPL 2026. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was part of the Rajasthan Royals, while captain Ayush Mhatre played for CSK. Kanishk Chauhan and Vihan Malhotra are likely to feature for RCB next season. Vaibhav made his Ranji Trophy debut at just 12. In December 2025, he scored 190 off 84 balls in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, registering the fastest 150 in ODIs and becoming the youngest centurion in List A cricket. Ayush scored his maiden Ranji century at 17. The Under-19 World Cup gives players valuable international exposure, strengthening their case for senior selection. Historically, only a few make it to the top, but several players from this squad have shown consistent performances. Apart from Vaibhav and Ayush, who were the other Under-19 stars? Auron George impressed with a century against Afghanistan in the semi-final while chasing a record 311-run target, and finished with 170 runs in five matches. Henil Patel emerged as one of India’s top wicket-takers, claiming five wickets against the USA and finishing the tournament with 11 wickets at an economy of 4.44. R S Ambrish took three key wickets in the final, including England centurion Caleb Faulkner, and ended the tournament with 11 wickets at an economy of 4.93. Abhigyan Kundu and Vihan Malhotra also contributed strongly with the bat. What has the journey of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre been like? Vaibhav had a quiet start but produced a historic 175 off 80 balls in the final, including 15 fours and 15 sixes — the highest individual score in an Under-19 World Cup final. He finished the tournament with 439 runs at an average of 62.7 and a record 30 sixes. Before the World Cup, he had already impressed in IPL 2025 with a 35-ball century for Rajasthan Royals, though inconsistency drew criticism. Despite this, he has delivered across Ranji, Vijay Hazare, IPL and the World Cup. His rise came with sacrifices. His father, Sanjeev Sooryavanshi, revealed that the family even sold land to support his training. From playing with a plastic ball at four to travelling 100 km thrice a week for coaching, the journey was relentless. At Rajasthan Royals trials, Vaibhav smashed three sixes in an over to meet a challenge set by batting coach Vikram Rathour. He was eventually bought for ₹1.1 crore and later rewarded by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar with ₹10 lakh. Ayush Mhatre, from Mumbai’s Nalasopara, began playing cricket at six and travelled nearly 80 km daily by local train for training. His father quit his banking job to support his career. After missing out on NCA selection in 2023 and battling depression, Ayush rebuilt his game under coach Dinesh Lad. Strong performances in domestic cricket followed, including 176 for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy and 181 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. CSK signed him for IPL 2025, and on his debut against the Mumbai Indians, he scored 32 off 15 balls. In the Under-19 World Cup, Ayush scored 214 runs, took seven wickets and played a crucial role in the final with a half-century. He became the sixth captain to win the Under-19 title after Mohammad Kaif, Virat Kohli, Unmukt Chand, Prithvi Shaw and Yash Dhull. How long does it take for Under-19 players to reach the senior national team? There is no fixed timeline. Yuvraj Singh debuted the same year he won the Under-19 World Cup in 2000. Virat Kohli made his international debut six months after winning the 2008 title. Others, like Siddarth Kaul, took a decade, while some never made it. Selectors closely track Under-19 performances. Several players in India’s current T20 World Cup squad are former Under-19 cricketers. For Vaibhav and Ayush, the IPL and domestic tournaments will be key. How important is the Under-19 World Cup for international cricket? The tournament offers young players a global platform and has been held since 1988. Many greats — Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, Joe Root, Babar Azam, Trent Boult and others — began their journey here, many later becoming Test captains. Between 1988 and 2022, 132 Indians played the Under-19 World Cup, with 40 progressing to the senior team. Analyst Harsha Bhogle calls it a crucial milestone, though not the final destination. How has India won six Under-19 World Cups? India is the most successful Under-19 team, having won titles in 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, 2022, and 2026, and reaching 10 finals in the last 13 tournaments. Key factors include a strong nationwide scouting system, elite coaching from legends like Rahul Dravid, a robust domestic structure, expanded participation across states, and platforms like the IPL and state leagues that keep the talent pipeline flowing.