India have named a 15-member squad for the ACC Men's U19 Asia Cup 2026 in Muscat, Oman, with Lakshya Raichandani as captain and Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan as vice-captain. The inclusion of Aaryavir Sehwag and Anvay Dravid draws attention, but their recent domestic numbers explain the selections.
Squad Announcement and Tournament Structure
The BCCI's Junior Cricket Committee, chaired by Parvinder Awana, announced the squad on October 30, 2026. The tournament runs from November 5 to November 14 in Muscat.
Eight teams are split into two groups of four. The top two sides from each group advance to the semi-finals, which makes every group game significant.
| Detail | Information |
|---|
| Squad size | 15 players |
| Captain | Lakshya Raichandani |
| Vice-captain | Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan |
| Venue | Muscat, Oman |
| Tournament dates | November 5 to November 14, 2026 |
| Semi-finals | November 12, 2026 |
| Final | November 14, 2026 |
Group Composition
India are in Group A with Nepal, Pakistan and UAE. Group B has Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Malaysia.
| Group A | Group B |
|---|
| India | Bangladesh |
| Nepal | Sri Lanka |
| Pakistan | Afghanistan |
| UAE | Malaysia |
India's Group-Stage Fixtures
India play three group matches in five days. Each fixture carries weight because only two of four teams qualify from the group.
| Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|
| November 6 | Nepal | OCC Turf 1, Muscat |
| November 8 | Pakistan | OCC Turf 1, Muscat |
| November 10 | UAE | OCC Turf 2, Muscat |
The compact schedule puts a premium on squad depth and bowling rotation. The semi-final follows two days after the last group game.
Form Guide: Sehwag, Dravid and Sood
The selections rest on measurable output in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy and recent youth internationals. The figures below are the ones available from the reports.
| Player | Role | Recent Performance |
|---|
| Aaryavir Sehwag | Top-order batter | 173 off 143 balls vs Chandigarh |
| Anvay Dravid | Wicketkeeper-batter | 358 runs in 5 innings, including 1 fifty and 2 centuries |
| Anvay Dravid | Wicketkeeper-batter | 87 off 67 balls vs Sri Lanka Youth, Hambantota, July 2026 |
| Ishan Sood | Bowler | 13 wickets in 8 matches at an average of 23 |
Aaryavir Sehwag
Sehwag scored 173 off 143 balls for Delhi against Chandigarh, a strike rate of roughly 121. That is a measured rate for an innings of that length. He is a top-order batter and an occasional leg-spinner who made his India U19 debut earlier this year.
Anvay Dravid
Dravid's 358 runs in five innings for Karnataka work out to about 71.6 runs per innings. Two centuries and a fifty in that run show conversion of starts into large scores. His 87 off 67 balls against Sri Lanka Youth came at a strike rate of about 129.9.
Ishan Sood
Sood took 13 wickets in eight matches at an average of 23, or about 1.6 wickets per match. That output adds a wicket-taking option to the attack.
Full India Squad for the U19 Asia Cup 2026
The squad has two designated wicketkeepers, Anvay Dravid and Rajat Baghel. That gives the side flexibility in selecting the top and middle order.
| No. | Player | Designation |
|---|
| 1 | Lakshya Raichandani | Captain |
| 2 | Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan | Vice-captain |
| 3 | Vineeth | Player |
| 4 | Kushagra Ojha | Player |
| 5 | Arjun Rajput | Player |
| 6 | Manal Chauhan | Player |
| 7 | Anvay Dravid | Wicketkeeper |
| 8 | Rajat Baghel | Wicketkeeper |
| 9 | Aaryavir Sehwag | Player |
| 10 | Yashveer | Player |
| 11 | Aryan Savsani | Player |
| 12 | Mohit Ulva | Player |
| 13 | Kavya Patel | Player |
| 14 | Shavin Vinod | Player |
| 15 | Ishan Sood | Player |
What the Numbers Suggest
The squad is built around players with recent run-scoring or wicket-taking records. Sehwag and Dravid carry the most visible names, but their selections are backed by large individual scores.
India face Pakistan on November 8, the middle fixture of the group stage. Results in that game and against Nepal and UAE will decide whether India reach the November 12 semi-final. The sample sizes here are small, so form in Oman conditions will be the real test.