The 2026 ICC Under-19 World Cup began on January 15 with a match between India and USA. A total of 16 teams are taking part in the tournament, which is being played in Zimbabwe and Namibia. The event features some of the best young cricket talents from around the world.

India are the most successful team in Under-19 World Cup history, having won the title five times. Many fans will remember Prithvi Shaw, who led India to victory in the 2018 Under-19 World Cup. Before that, in 2008, a young Indian team led by Virat Kohli won the trophy in Malaysia.

Several current Indian stars first made their mark at the Under-19 World Cup. Players like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Abhishek Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Kuldeep Yadav announced their arrival on the big stage through this tournament.

While most fans remember these well-known names, here is a list of five Indian players you may not know who also once represented India in the Under-19 World Cup.

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1. Arshdeep Singh

India’s highest wicket-taker in T20I cricket, Arshdeep Singh, was part of India’s Under-19 World Cup–winning team in 2018. The team was led by Prithvi Shaw, and the tournament was held in New Zealand.

Arshdeep played two matches in the competition and took three wickets. He bowled with great control and had an economy rate of just two runs per over. At the time, most of the attention was on fast bowlers Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Shivam Mavi, who regularly touched 140 kmph, but Arshdeep was also part of the same strong pace group.

2. Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer represented India in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2014, which was hosted by the UAE. India finished fifth, while South Africa won the tournament.

Iyer played three matches and scored 161 runs at a strike rate of 105.22. The spotlight was mainly on players like Sanju Samson, Kuldeep Yadav, Sarfaraz Khan, and Deepak Hooda, but Iyer made good use of his chances. He is now the vice-captain of India’s ODI team.

3. KL Rahul

KL Rahul, who is now known for handling pressure at the senior level, played in the Under-19 World Cup 2010. He batted at number three for India.

The team was led by Ashok Menaria, with Akshath Reddy and Mayank Agarwal opening the batting. India finished sixth after losing to South Africa in the fifth-place play-off. Rahul scored 143 runs in six innings at a strike rate of under 70.

4. Cheteshwar Pujara

Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara was the backbone of the Test team for many years. While he is known as a red-ball specialist, not many fans know that he was the top scorer in the Under-19 World Cup 2006.

Pujara scored 349 runs in six matches, averaging 116.33 with a strike rate of 82.11. Despite such a strong record at the youth level, he played only five ODIs for India in his senior career.

5. Stuart Binny

Stuart Binny, who once held the record for the best bowling figures by an Indian in ODIs, played in the Under-19 World Cup 2002.

The pace-bowling all-rounder featured in six matches, scoring 34 runs and taking four wickets. He made his senior India debut 12 years later and produced a memorable spell of 6/4 against Bangladesh in an ODI in 2014.

The talk of the town ahead of the two-match Test series between India and South Africa was the exclusion of Mohammad Shami, who, despite the national side playing a Test match at his domestic ground, Eden Gardens in Kolkata, is still linked with Bengal for the Ranji Trophy 2025/26 season. 

Mohammad Shami has already breathed fire in the event, but despite that, he has been overlooked by the BCCI selection committee and management in the longest format for nearly two years. He played his last Test match against Australia during the WTC 2021-23 final in South London. Now, Shami’s former team-mate, Cheteshwar Pujara, has sent a blunt message to the selectors ahead of the Protea series.

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“Someone like Mohammed Shami should be having – I mean, the selectors and the team management should have a very honest conversation with him. What’s the plan going forward? Whether they want to pick him or whether they are looking at the young players.” Pujara expressed during an interaction on JioHotstar.

Cheteshwar Pujara reacts to Mohammad Shami’s exclusion from South Africa Test series

Shami has played 64 Test matches so far in his career, picking up 229 wickets at an average of around 28 and a strike rate of 50 with six five-wicket hauls. India’s captain, Shubman Gill, has also rated the 35-year-old as a quality bowler on the eve of the Kolkata Test, besides highlighting their wish to put weight on the youngsters.

“If he is being informed that they are not looking at him, then it is always Shami’s personal call whether he wants to carry on playing first-class cricket, whether he still wants to – I mean, he is part of the IPL as well. So, he would want to carry on playing cricket.” Pujara mentioned in the same interaction.

“There aren't many bowlers of his (Mohammed Shami’s) quality around. But you have to take into consideration the bowlers that are playing right now. They have done such a terrific job. You can't ignore the performances of someone like Akash Deep or someone like Prasidh.” Gill shed light in the press conference.

The Kolkata Knight Riders’ co-owner and the Bollywood superstar, Shah Rukh Khan, has extended his support to the recently retired Indian player, Cheteshwar Pujara, during the latter’s serious knee injury in 2010, arranging for his surgery in Cape Town after the right-handed batter tore his cruciate ligament before featuring in a single game for the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise. 

The injury occurred during a net session when Cheteshwar Pujara injured himself while attempting a catch, resulting in a ruptured ACL that derailed his career. Puja, wife of Pujara, looked back at the incident in her book, The Diary of a Cricketer’s Wife, where she recalled how SRK helped Pujara massively during that tough period.

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“Destiny impelled him to dash heedlessly to a ball for a catch that was never there; and the result: a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, an impending surgery, and a temporarily halted cricketing career — all without playing a single game for KKR.” She wrote in her book as the KKR franchise took the full responsibility for Pujara’s treatment.

Cheteshwar Pujara’s wife reveals story of how Shah Rukh Khan saved veteran’s career

Pujara retired from international cricket with 7195 runs in 176 innings at an average of 43.60 with the help of 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 206 runs. Pujara didn’t get a huge success in the IPL with 390 runs in 22 innings at 20.52 with a lone fifty.

“Shah Rukh also told me that Chintu had a great future ahead of him and should have the best available medical treatment. When he realised I was worried about the absence of a support system in South Africa and my faith in Dr Shah’s abilities, he offered to fly him and any family members I wanted with me.” Pujara’s wife addressed.

In that opening season of the IPL for Pujara in 2009/10, he drilled 122 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 106.08. Overall, he has clubbed 1556 runs in 63 T20 innings at a strike rate of 112.18 with nine fifties and one century.

The former Indian captain, Ajinkya Rahane, has called for changes in the selection of the selectors for the country’s domestic cricket. He recently stepped down from the Mumbai leadership ahead of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season as Shardul Thakur got the responsibility.

Rahane demands the recently-retired Indian players to become selectors because of their known facts of the current state of the game. He suggested that this would help the players not to be scared of those entrusted to pick the best of them into the state teams.

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“Players should not be scared of selectors. I want to talk about selectors, especially in domestic cricket. We should have selectors who have retired recently from playing top-flight cricket, those who have retired five-six years, seven-eight years ago. Because the way cricket is evolving, I think it’s very important that the mentality and mindset of the selectors match that and keep pace with the change.” Rahane expressed on his YouTube channel.

Ajinkya Rahane makes shocking statement on selectors appointment in India’s domestic cricket

Rahane made the comment with the recently retired Indian batter, Cheteshwar Pujara, who can’t apply for the job of selector till 2030, according to the current rules of the BCCI. The Saurashtra batter balanced his idea by stating that it shouldn’t mean that cricketers retired in the previous eras shouldn’t be considered at all.

“We don’t want to make decisions based on how cricket was played 20-30 years ago. With formats like T20 and the IPL, it’s important to understand the style of modern cricket players. I believe selectors should, wherever possible, be individuals from all states, and players should be on the ground playing with freedom, playing fearless cricket.” Rahane addressed in the video.

“In big states, this can be implemented because they have so many options. So, wherever possible, I do agree that it can be implemented, but that does mean that any past cricketer, who has got a great record and wants to be a selector now, should be deprived of the chance because he retired long back.” Cheteshwar Pujara added his view in the interaction.

India’s long-time number three batter of the longest format, Cheteshwar Pujara, announced his retirement from international cricket. He brought down the curtains on his career but kept himself available for selection during the next Ranji Trophy 2025/26 season for Saurashtra.

The right-handed batter finished his red-ball career as the eighth leading run-getter for the Blue Brigade. With 7195 runs in 176 innings at an average of 43.60 and a strike rate of nearly 51.25, thanks to 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 206 runs, Pujara finished ahead of Dilip Vengsarkar and just behind Sourav Ganguly. India’s PM Narendra Modi shared a special message on the batter.

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“I learnt about your decision to retire from all forms of cricket. Following the announcement, there has been an outpouring of appreciation from the fans and the cricketing fraternity about your remarkable achievements. I convey my heartiest congratulations and warmest greetings on a spectacular cricketing career.” PM Narendra Modi expressed in a letter.

PM Narendra Modi shares special message on Cheteshwar Pujara's international retirement

Pujara’s best contribution for the national side came during the BGT 2019/20 down under when he smashed over 500 runs to win the series by 2-1. His contribution with the bat at number three, in taking the shine off the new ball to make it easy for the middle order batters, was exceptional.

I was honoured to receive a letter of appreciation on my retirement from our Honourable Prime Minister. The warm sentiments expressed are much appreciated. While I venture into my second innings, I cherish every memory on the field, and all the love and appreciation I have… pic.twitter.com/s74fIYrboM

— Cheteshwar Pujara (@cheteshwar1) August 31, 2025

“In an age dominated by shorter formats of cricket, you were a reminder of the beauty of the longer format of the game. Your unflappable temperament and ability to bat long hours with great concentration made you the fulcrum of the Indian batting line-up.” PM Narendra Modi expressed in the letter.

“I was honoured to receive a letter of appreciation on my retirement from our Honourable Prime Minister. The warm sentiments expressed are much appreciated. While I venture into my second innings, I cherish every memory on the field and all the love and appreciation I have received. Thank you, Sir.” Pujara wrote on his ‘X’ account (formerly known as Twitter).

Recently retired Indian top-order batter, Cheteshwar Pujara, has revealed that he knew that he wouldn’t get regular chances in various leagues around the world. This was the biggest reason why the Saurashtra batter was focused mostly on the longest format of the game.

Pujara has played 71 T20 games in his entire career, where he smashed 1556 runs at an average of just under 30 and a strike rate of 112.18 with nine half-centuries and the best score of an unbeaten century. His last IPL game came in 2014, in which season, he drilled 125 runs at a strike rate of 100.80.

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“Yeah, look, someone like me always didn’t have too many options if I had to continue playing Test cricket. I wanted my entire focus to be there, for Test cricket. And I didn’t want to shift my focus from Test cricket, into say T20 leagues or T20 format. I did that early in my career, where I tried my best. If I got an opportunity to be part of the IPL, the T20, or the ODI cricket, then I would be more than happy to do so.” Pujara expressed on ESPNcricinfo.

Watch: Cheteshwar Pujara reveals reasons for not being regular in T20 leagues

Pujara’s last T20 game came in 2022 against Mumbai when he added 12 runs in 10 balls, opening the batting. The veteran shed light on how he never tried range hitting in practice before Test matches.

'Knew I wouldn't get a chance in the T20 leagues'

Chetweshwar Pujara on why he never chased the shortest format 🗣️ #RockAndRollIt pic.twitter.com/NFenW4C1KX

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 30, 2025

“But in the last five to six years, I knew that I would just have to carry on to play Test cricket. I won’t get an opportunity to play white-ball cricket. So, I didn’t want to shift my focus and change my game just for white-ball cricket. It might affect Test cricket, and I didn’t want to sacrifice that.” The 37-year-old addressed.

“My priority was Test cricket, and I stuck to that. I did try range hitting in practice, but that was only before a T20 game for Saurashtra or when I played white-ball cricket for Sussex. It was purely for the ODI or the T20 preparation. I never did that for Test cricket when I practiced for Test, I never tried too many shots. Maybe against spinners, I did.” The Saurashtra-born added.

India’s recently retired top-order batter, Cheteshwar Pujara, who recently decided to retire from international cricket and still kept himself available for the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2025/26 season for Saurashtra, has responded to the compliment of the former Indian captain, Virat Kohli.

Kohli was late in wishing Pujara’s international career for India when he shed light on the right-handed batter’s comment on how the number three batter made life easy for the Delhi-born to go through his process at number four. “Thank you for making my job easier at 4 pujji. You’ve had an amazing career. Congratulations and wish you the best for what’s ahead. God bless @cheteshwar_pujara.” Kohli wrote on Instagram.

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“It's a nice compliment from Virat. He's a great player, and if he's saying that I've made his life easier, I'm really proud because if you're a top-order batsman, your job is to ensure that the rest of the batters who bat at number 4, 5, 6, you make their life easier. That's my job.” Pujara expressed during a recent interaction.

Cheteshwar Pujara responds to Virat Kohli’s wish on international retirement

Pujara finished his red-ball career as the eighth leading run-getter of the Blue Brigade with the help of 7195 runs in 176 innings at an average of 43.60, thanks to 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries at the best score of 206*. In FC cricket, the veteran has grabbed 21301 runs at an average of 51.82 with 66 centuries and 81 fifties.

During India’s first red-ball series win against Australia down under during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2018/19, Pujara contributed with over 500 runs in four games, where he faced over 1200 deliveries for the six-week campaign, as the opponent bowling line-up was frustrated by the end of the series.

Kohli and Pujara compiled 3513 runs in 83 innings of the longest format, registering seven century partnerships and eight half-century stands at an average of 43.37. In the last eight months, India has lost several Test players, including Ravichandran Ashwin and Rohit Sharma. A few could also decide on a new future as the Test side is slowly moving into the transition.

Star Indian batter Virat Kohli took 18 seasons to win his first IPL title when Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) won the trophy in the 2025 season. They defeated the Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs in the final.

Virat Kohli played a key role and was the top run-scorer for RCB this season. He scored 657 runs in 15 games, with an average of 54.75 and a strike rate of 144.71, including eight half-centuries.

Kohli had come close to winning the title three times when RCB reached the finals in 2009, 2011, and 2016, but he could not win the trophy. Overall, he has scored 8,661 runs in 267 IPL matches, with an average of 39.54, including eight centuries and 63 fifties.

While it took him 18 years to win the IPL, several players were lucky enough to win the trophy much earlier. This also includes players who were part of winning teams but did not make a big contribution themselves.

Here are five Indian players you may not know who won the IPL before Virat Kohli:

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5. RP Singh – Deccan Chargers, IPL 2012

Former India pacer RP Singh made his IPL debut in 2008 with the now-defunct Deccan Chargers. The next season, in 2009, he won the league as Deccan Chargers beat RCB by six runs in the final.

Batting first, they scored 143/6 and then restricted the opposition to 137/9. RP Singh bowled four overs and gave just 16 runs while taking one wicket. Virat Kohli also played in that final and scored seven runs. The left-arm pacer was important throughout the season and ended as the highest-wicket taker with 23 wickets, winning the 'Purple Cap'.

4. Wriddhiman Saha – Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2011

Former wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha played for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2011 and was in the final against RCB. He did not bat in the final but still won the title as CSK beat RCB by 58 runs. That season, Saha batted in three innings and scored 68 runs, with a top score of 46 not out. Virat Kohli scored 35 runs in the 2011 final. Saha had a good season with 557 runs from 16 games at an average of 46.41, including four fifties, but could not win the trophy before the final.

3. Jaydev Unadkat – Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL 2012

Left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat was part of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) when they won the IPL in 2012. KKR beat CSK by five wickets in a close final. CSK scored 190/3 batting first, and KKR chased it down in the last over. Unadkat did not play in the final and played only one game that season, giving 32 runs in three overs without taking a wicket. Even so, he became an IPL winner. He also played with Virat Kohli in 2013 when Unadkat joined RCB.

2.  Unmukt Chand – Mumbai Indians, IPL 2015

Former India batter and Under-19 World Cup-winning captain Unmukt Chand won the IPL before Virat Kohli. He was part of Mumbai Indians (MI) when they won the league in 2015. MI beat CSK by 41 runs in the final. Unmukt Chand did not play in the final. He played six matches that season and scored 102 runs at an average of 20.40, including one half-century. He last played in the IPL in 2016 for MI, after which he was released and never returned to the league.

1. Cheteshwar Pujara – Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2021

Veteran Test batter Cheteshwar Pujara, who recently retired from all Indian cricket, also won the IPL before Virat Kohli. Pujara was bought by CSK in 2021 for ₹50 lakh. They beat KKR in the final by 27 runs. Pujara did not play any game that season but became an IPL champion. He had returned to the league after 2014. Pujara played alongside Virat Kohli when Kohli was part of RCB from 2011 to 2013. He was released after 2021 and never played in the IPL again.

Former Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara shared the names of the four toughest bowlers he faced in his career after announcing his retirement from international cricket.

In a post-retirement interview with Indian media, the 37-year-old named two South African pacers, one from England, and one from Australia. He said Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel from South Africa, James Anderson from England, and Pat Cummins from Australia were the most difficult bowlers for him.

Pujara’s record against South Africa in Tests was not strong. He scored at an average of 30.41 in 17 matches with only one century. His numbers were worse in South Africa, where he averaged just 28.15 in 19 innings.

Also Read -Cheteshwar Pujara vs Sourav Ganguly – Statistical Comparison After 103 Test Matches

Pujara’s Struggles Against Top Bowlers

The numbers show how much Pujara struggled against them. Against Dale Steyn, he averaged only 30, while his average fell further to 18 against Morne Morkel. Together, the South African duo dismissed him six times.

Against James Anderson, Pujara averaged just 21.80 in Tests and was out to the English pacer 12 times. Pat Cummins also troubled him, dismissing him eight times while Pujara averaged 22.50 against him.

Pujara announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket on Sunday. He played 103 Tests and five ODIs after making his debut in 2010. He scored 7,195 Test runs at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries and 35 fifties. At home, he averaged 52.58 with 3,839 runs. His last Test was the WTC final against Australia at The Oval in June 2023.

He is also one of only three Indian players, alongside ML Jaisimha and Ravi Shastri, to bat on all five days of a Test match. Interestingly, Pujara did not include Jasprit Bumrah among the toughest bowlers, as he faced him only once in IPL 2024 and scored four runs off five balls.

Former Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara picked the four toughest bowlers he faced during his career, via TOI. pic.twitter.com/uR9LB6mk9J

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) August 25, 2025

Pujara’s Five Best Knocks

Pujara also picked his five favourite Test innings. His first choice was 145* in Sri Lanka in 2015, a comeback innings that helped India win the series 2-1. His second was 123 against Australia in Adelaide in the 2018/19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where India went on to win the series 2-1.

His next two picks were double centuries against England and Australia at home in the 2012/13 season, both in winning causes. His final choice was the fighting 92 against Australia in Bengaluru in 2017, which helped India level the series 1-1.

Pujara ended his career with 7,195 Test runs at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries, in 103 matches.

The former Indian captain, Virat Kohli, has shared a special message on the international retirement of the middle-order batter, Cheteshwar Pujara, who, however, has kept him available for the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2025/26 for the Saurashtra side. During Kohli’s tenure as India’s Test captain, Pujara made an enormous contribution with the bat. 

Virat Kohli also retired from the longest format of the game a few months ago when he announced the decision through an Instagram post before the five-match Test series in England. Pujara ended his red-ball career as the eighth leading run-getter of the national side with 7195 runs in 176 innings at an average of 43.60, thanks to 19 centuries and 35 fifties.

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“Thank you for making my job easier at 4 pujji. You’ve had an amazing career. Congratulations and wish you the best for what’s ahead. God bless @cheteshwar_pujara.” Kohli wrote on his Instagram story with a picture. Pujara’s role at number three for the Blue Brigade in the five-day format was incredibly important in not only scoring runs but also going through the new ball spell.

Virat Kohli pays tribute to Cheteshwar Pujara after international retirement

Pujara hasn’t played for India in the red-ball format since the final of the World Test Championship 2021-23 against Australia at the Kennington Oval in South London. He drew warm wishes from the fans and followers of the game as Kohli’s delayed posting again showed how important the right-handed batter was in the middle.

Virat Kohli's Instagram story for Cheteshwar Pujara ❤️🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/u0JUj9DCP5

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 26, 2025

“Pujara's contribution at No.3, if you agree or do not, was instrumental in helping Virat Kohli also make a lot of his runs, and I have one such case as an example. In the final Test against South Africa at the Wanderers, where the pitch was deemed too dangerous at one stage, Pujara played 53 balls before he got off the mark.” Ravichandran Ashwin, the former Indian player, addressed.

Ashwin retired from international cricket post the Gabba Test of the BGT 2024/25. After that, Rohit Sharma and Kohli also retired in between a week. Now, with Pujara’s retirement, India’s golden period of the Test team is slowly fading.