India's U19 World Cup stars to watch out for in IPL 2026

India exerted their dominance over the cricketing world as they clinched their record-extending sixth Under-19 World Cup title in 2026. The Men in Blue hammered England by a massive margin of 100 runs in the summit clash, which again served as a testament to their rich talent reserve waiting in the wings to rise at the international level.

As India emerged victorious again, several players played a key role in their triumph, rising to the occasion at different stages of the campaign and helping their team win the title. Among India’s 15-member squad, a few were even picked by the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises and will get a golden opportunity to shine at the grandest T20 league in the world in the upcoming season. Here’s a list of India’s Under-19 stars, all set to feature in the IPL 2026:

1. Kanishk Chouhan

The 19-year-old all-rounder from Rajasthan was sold for his base price of Rs 30 lakh to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) during the mini auction for the upcoming season. During India’s victorious campaign, Chouhan scored 113 runs from five innings at a good strike rate of 116. Apart from that, he also scalped seven wickets with his off-spin. Chouhan will be itching to get his first opportunity at RCB, who will be eager to defend their title in the upcoming season.

2. Vihaan Malhotra

The 19-year-old from Punjab garnered massive praise for his all-around show during India’s victorious campaign. Malhotra finished as the team’s second-highest run scorer with 240 runs from seven innings at an average of 60 with one hundred to his name.

The right-arm spinner also scalped 4/14 against Bangladesh, helping the team register a narrow 18-run victory. Malhotra was picked up by RCB for his base price of Rs 30 lakh at the IPL 2026 mini-auction as the franchise continued to invest in youth talent to safeguard their future.

3. Ayush Mhatre

The India U-19 skipper etched his name in the record books, joining an elite list of players to have led the team to a World Cup triumph in youth cricket. Mhatre made valuable contributions with both bat and ball during India’s victorious campaign, having scored 214 runs in seven innings and also scalped seven wickets.

The 18-year-old had already left his mark at the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) during his debut IPL season in 2025. He will serve as a vital cog in their batting lineup in the upcoming season as CSK aim to make a grand comeback after a forgettable last season.

4. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

The 14-year-old left everyone awestruck with his stroke play during his debut season, slamming the fastest century by an Indian and the second fastest overall in IPL history off just 35 balls. Sooryavanshi hasn’t looked back since then, having shattered record books at both domestic and youth levels with his belligerent batting.

He was adjudged Player of the Tournament as well as Player of the Match in the final during India’s Under-19 World Cup triumph. Sooryavanshi whacked a 55-ball century, en route to a blistering innings of 175 (80), which eventually set up a comprehensive win for India. Having risen in stature over the past 12 months, Sooryavanshi is ready to become every bowler’s worst nightmare in IPL 2026 and launch them into the stands for fun.