India U19 Stars Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre Set for Crucial England Tour Ahead of World Cup

India’s Under-19 cricket team is set for a vital preparation tour of England, featuring five 50-over matches and two unofficial Tests beginning in late June, as part of their build-up to the Under-19 World Cup scheduled for January 2026 in Zimbabwe and Namibia.

According to a Times of India report, the tour will coincide with the senior Indian team’s Test series against England, which kicks off on June 22. A BCCI official confirmed, “The India Under-19 boys will tour England this summer. The team will reach the UK on June 21.”

Two promising young stars, Rajasthan Royals’ 14-year-old sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Mumbai and Chennai Super Kings’ 17-year-old talent Ayush Mhatre, are likely to feature in the squad. Both players have already made significant impressions in domestic and international junior cricket.

Suryavanshi, who smashed a blistering 62-ball 104 in a four-day game against Australia Under-19 earlier this year, has been a revelation. He was also one of India’s designated openers during the Under-19 Asia Cup 2024 held in the UAE, where India finished runners-up after a narrow loss to Bangladesh. Both Suryavanshi and Mhatre tallied 176 runs in five matches at an average of 44, showcasing impressive strike rates of 135 and 145 respectively.

Suryavanshi’s meteoric rise continued in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, where he was snapped up by Rajasthan Royals for INR 1.1 crore. Making history as the youngest player to appear in the IPL, the Bihar-born opener hit a six off the very first ball he faced against Shardul Thakur. He later delivered a stunning performance against Gujarat Titans, hammering a match-winning 101 off just 38 balls, including 11 sixes and seven boundaries.

Mhatre, too, has made a strong case for himself through consistent performances in domestic cricket. The young batsman scored 441 runs in just six First-Class matches and piled up 458 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at an average of 65. His impressive form earned him a mid-season call-up as a replacement for injured CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad.

The upcoming England tour will serve as a crucial platform for India’s Under-19 team to fine-tune their skills in challenging overseas conditions ahead of the World Cup. With talents like Suryavanshi and Mhatre in the ranks, the team will be hopeful of sharpening their competitive edge and aiming for glory in 2026.