India vs England: As Team India gears up for an exciting summer of red-ball cricket in England, there’s a double dose of action in store for Indian cricket fans. While Shubman Gill will lead the senior Indian men’s team in a high-stakes five-match Test series against England starting June 20, a parallel storyline is unfolding with India’s U-19 squad also touring England under the leadership of young Ayush Mhatre.

The senior team will open their campaign at the iconic Headingley Cricket Ground in Leeds, aiming to assert dominance in English conditions. Meanwhile, the U-19 side will be busy with an intense schedule of limited-overs and multi-day matches as they prepare for the future of Indian cricket.

Ayush Mhatre to Lead U-19 Team in Packed Tour

India vs England: Ayush Mhatre, a rising star who earned recognition in IPL 2025, has been named captain of the India U-19 team for the England tour. The young team will be in action from June 24 to July 23, playing:

One 50-over warm-up match

Five Youth One-Day Internationals (YODIs)

Two multi-day matches

Mhatre impressed during IPL 2025 with his calm presence at the crease. Though he went unsold in the auction, he was brought in as a replacement after CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad suffered an injury. Under the guidance of MS Dhoni, Mhatre scored 240 runs in 7 innings, earning the confidence of selectors and eventually the U-19 captaincy.

Two Players Ruled Out, Replacements Announced

India vs England: However, just before the young team could set off for the tour, two key players—Aditya Rana and Khilan Patel—suffered injuries that have ruled them out of the entire England series. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed their replacements in an official statement.

Aditya Rana sustained a lower back injury and was diagnosed with a stress fracture.

Khilan Patel injured his right leg during a training camp at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.

To fill the void, Deepesh and Naman Pushpak—both originally part of the standby list—have been added to the final touring squad.

Spotlight on Vaibhav Suryavanshi, India’s Teenage Phenom

India vs England: One of the biggest talking points ahead of the tour is 14-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who caught national attention with a blistering century in IPL 2025. Playing for Rajasthan Royals, Vaibhav smashed a 100 off just 35 balls, setting the record for the fastest IPL century by an Indian.

Despite his young age, Vaibhav played seven IPL innings and scored 252 runs, proving that he belongs on the big stage. As he gears up for international youth cricket, fans and experts alike will be closely watching how he adapts to English conditions.

Final Squad for India U-19 England Tour

India vs England: The updated squad for the U-19 England tour includes a balanced mix of batting firepower, all-round depth, and bowling strength:

Ayush Mhatre (Captain)

Abhigyan Kundu (Vice-captain & Wicketkeeper)

Vaibhav Suryavanshi

Rahul Kumar

Vihan Malhotra

Maulyarajsinh Chavda

Harvansh Singh (Wicketkeeper)

R.S. Ambarish

Kanishk Chauhan

Henil Patel

Mohammed Enan

Deepesh

Naman Pushpak

Anmoljeet Singh

Yudhajit Guha

Pranav Raghavendra

A Tour to Shape the Future

India vs England: While the senior team’s series will draw global viewership, the U-19 tour represents a critical developmental phase for India’s next generation of cricketers. With a leader like Mhatre and young prodigies like Suryavanshi in the ranks, this tour could well serve as a defining chapter in India’s cricketing future.

Both teams will carry the hopes of a billion fans as they step onto English soil. And if recent history is anything to go by, Indian cricket is in very good hands—both present and future.