As India gears up for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on home soil, the focus is already shifting to what lies ahead. The recent Under-19 Asia Cup highlighted a number of promising young Indian players who, despite finishing as runners-up, showcased their incredible talent and composure. With the T20 World Cup 2028 looming, some of these rising stars could very well become strong candidates for selection if they keep up their impressive performances. Let’s take a closer look at five players from the U19 Asia Cup who might don the Indian jersey in the next T20 World Cup. Vaibhav Suryavanshi Vaibhav Suryavanshi is already making waves as one of India’s most thrilling young prospects. At just 14 years old, he left everyone in awe during IPL 2025 while playing for the Rajasthan Royals. He racked up 252 runs in seven matches, including a remarkable 101 off just 38 balls against the Gujarat Titans. That innings not only made him the youngest centurion in IPL history but also the second-fastest player to reach a hundred in the league.In the recently wrapped-up U19 Asia Cup, Suryavanshi kicked things off with a bang, scoring 171 against the UAE. Although his performance dipped later in the tournament, those moments of brilliance clearly demonstrated why he’s viewed as a long-term asset for Indian cricket. Ayush Mhatre Ayush Mhatre took the reins as captain for India during the U19 Asia Cup, but unfortunately, his performance with the bat didn’t quite shine. He managed to score only 65 runs across five innings, averaging 13.00 with a strike rate of 112.07. However, he turned things around in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025, where he really made an impact, racking up 325 runs in just six innings at an impressive strike rate of 166.67. Mhatre has also made waves in List A cricket, amassing 458 runs at an average of 65.43, and he even became the youngest player globally to score 150 or more in a List A innings. While the Asia Cup may not have gone as he hoped, his leadership and aggressive batting style are definitely a great fit for the T20 format. Read also: SA20 2026: Full Updated Squads of All Six Teams After Auction Vihaan Malhotra Vihaan Malhotra recently caught the spotlight when he was picked up by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) during the IPL 2026 mini-auction.He quickly proved his worth, delivering a match-winning performance in the semi-final against Sri Lanka, which helped India secure a spot in the final of the U19 Asia Cup. Malhotra also notched up a half-century against the UAE and made valuable contributions with the ball. Looking at his overall performance in the U19 Asia Cup 2025, he scored 156 runs in 5 innings, boasting a strike rate of 109.09 and an average of 39.00. Deepesh Devendran Deepesh Devendran emerged as India’s top bowler in the U19 Asia Cup, finishing as the tournament's highest wicket-taker and claiming wickets in every match he participated in. His standout moments included a five-wicket haul against Malaysia and three wickets against Pakistan during the group stage. His stats show he took 14 wickets in five innings, maintaining an economy rate of 4.77. In the high-stakes final against Pakistan, he continued to shine, taking three crucial wickets while conceding 83 runs. With his consistency and control, he’s poised to be a valuable asset in T20 cricket as he climbs the ranks. Abhigyan Kundu Abhigyan Kundu made headlines by scoring an impressive unbeaten 209 against Malaysia, marking him as the first Indian Under-19 batter to achieve a double century. He also showcased his T20 talent with a brisk 32 runs off just 17 balls against the UAE. Although he faced challenges against Pakistan, Kundu’s knack for scoring big runs really emphasizes his potential. If he can enhance his performance against tougher bowling attacks, he could emerge as a reliable top-order player for India.