IPL 2026: After Vaibhav Suryavanshi, these 2 U19 prodigy look promising enough to play IPL

The India Men's U19 in the Australia ODI series has attracted significant attention from Indian cricket fans, as there are multiple promising youngsters in the Blue. Apart from Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, there are at least two other batters who, so far, looked promising enough to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

India U19 scored 300 runs in 49.4 overs against the Australia U19 team at Ian Healy Oval, in Brisbane. Ayush, captain of India U19, departed for a duck, though his opening partner, Vaibhav, played another impressive 70-run knock. The seventy-run innings he played against 68 deliveries did not justify his aggressive mindset. From the lower order, it was Vihaan Malhotra and Abhigyan Kundu who enriched the run tally. Malhotra and Kundu scored 70 and 71 runs, respectively.

Due to IPL 2025, Mhatre and Suryavanshi got the opportunity to make headlines on big occasions. But Malhotra and Kundu, who proved their abilities in various age group competitions, are yet to receive an IPL contract. Ahead of IPL 2026, when multiple franchises are planning to reinforce their batting lineup, half centuries from those two batters can make positive impressions. 

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Short introductions about Malhotra and Kundu

Who is Vihaan Malhotra? 

Hailing from Patiala, the 18-year-old has been scoring runs significantly. Before that Youth ODI series against Australia A, the batter scored a couple of hundreds against the England A team and two half centuries as well. He can bowl as well. Against England A, during youth test matches, he picked up few wickets as well.

Who is Abhigyan Kundu?

The 17-year-old Mumbaikar is another prodigy from the India U19 teams, who has already left positive impressions through his batting and keeping. His capability to understand the situation of a match makes him different from others. During the previous Youth ODI against Australia U19, the left-handed batter scored an unbeaten 87 runs for a winning cause in the second innings and took a couple of catches behind the wicket as well. Against England U19, during a Youth Test, he missed a century only for 10 runs.