Why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Can’t Play U-19 World Cup Again

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been left out of India's 15-member U-19 squad for the upcoming home series against Australia despite being just 15 years old and already having made his senior international debut.

The omission is not related to form or performance. Instead, a BCCI rule introduced in 2016 prevents players from appearing in more than one U-19 World Cup.

Why is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi not in India U-19 squad?

The BCCI introduced a policy in 2016 that bars players from participating in multiple editions of the U-19 World Cup, even if they remain eligible based on age.

Sooryavanshi already represented India at the 2026 U-19 World Cup. As a result, he cannot feature in another edition of the tournament under the BCCI's current policy.

The rule has affected other prominent players in the past. Washington Sundar, for instance, was unable to play at the 2018 U-19 World Cup because of the regulation.

Before the rule was introduced, players such as Sarfaraz Khan, Sandeep Sharma and Vijay Zol had featured in multiple editions.

Therefore, Sooryavanshi's absence from the latest India U-19 setup is a matter of eligibility policy rather than selection based on his performances.

Aaryavir Sehwag, Anvay Dravid included

The India U-19 squad for the Australia assignment includes Aaryavir Sehwag, son of former India opener Virender Sehwag, and Anvay Dravid, son of former India head coach Rahul Dravid.

Aaryavir, a leg-spin all-rounder, has been selected for the 50-over matches and is currently playing for West Delhi Lions in the 2026 Delhi Premier League.

Anvay, a wicketkeeper-batter, has also made the one-day squad after scoring **101 runs in two 50-over matches** during India's July tour of Sri Lanka.

Neither player has been selected for the red-ball fixtures.

India U-19 squad for Australia series

The 50-over side will be captained by Uttarakhand batter Lakshya Raichandani, with Madhya Pradesh's Yashbardhan Chauhan as vice-captain.

Chauhan will captain the red-ball side, with Raichandani serving as his deputy.

India U-19 50-over squad:

• Lakshya Raichandani (c)
• Yashbardhan Chauhan (vc)
• Rajat Baghel (wk)
• Aaryavir Sehwag
• V.K. Vineet
• Kushagra Ojha
• Arjun Rajput
• Manal Chauhan
• Anvay Dravid (wk)
• V. Yashveer
• Rohit Yadav
• Shavin Vinodh
• Mohit Ulva
• Chigurupati Venkata
• Kavya Patel

India U-19 vs Australia: Schedule

The India U-19 side will play three 50-over matches in Rajkot on September 18, 21 and 23, followed by two multi-day red-ball fixtures.

The first red-ball match is scheduled for September 27-30 in Rajkot, with the second running from October 5-8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium 'B' Ground in Ahmedabad.

For Sooryavanshi, the rule means his pathway now moves beyond the U-19 World Cup cycle despite his age. His senior-level breakthrough means he remains eligible for opportunities with India's senior setup, but he will not be part of another U-19 World Cup campaign under the current BCCI policy.