Team India’s senior side begins their Australia ODI series on October 19, but Rohit Sharma’s presence will be felt much earlier—through his bat. The Indian Under-19 team, led by captain Ayush Mhatre, has already landed in Australia for their own series. Interestingly, Mhatre will be wielding a bat gifted to him by Rohit Sharma, making it a special tour for the youngster.

A Gift of Inspiration

Before the U19 squad departed, Rohit Sharma presented his bat to Ayush Mhatre. For the right-handed opener, it wasn’t just a piece of equipment but a symbol of belief and motivation. Mhatre expressed that receiving Rohit’s bat has boosted his confidence as he prepares to face Australia’s best young talents.

Packed ODI Schedule in Just 120 Hours

India U19 will face Australia U19 in a three-match ODI series compressed into just 120 hours—five days.

• 1st ODI: September 21 (Brisbane)

• 2nd ODI: September 24 (Brisbane)

• 3rd ODI: September 26 (Brisbane)

All matches will start at 9:30 AM IST.

Multi-Day Matches to Follow

After the ODI series, the U19 squads will also battle in two multi-day fixtures. The first is scheduled in Brisbane (September 30–October 3), followed by the second in Mackay (October 7–10).

Squad Highlights

The Indian U19 touring party includes captain Ayush Mhatre, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Vihaan Malhotra, Vedant Trivedi, Rahul Kumar, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), Harvansh Singh (wk), RS Ambrish, Kanishk Chauhan, Naman Pushpak, Henil Patel, D. Deepesh, Kishan Kumar, Anmoljeet Singh, Khilan Patel, Udhav Mohan, and Aman Chauhan.