India have begun their ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 campaign with their opening game against the United States of America (USA) Under-19 on Thursday, January 15. The game is being played at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

India are placed in Group B alongside the USA, Bangladesh, and New Zealand. A total of 16 teams are participating in the tournament and are divided into four groups of four teams each.

India’s fixtures in the group stages include their ongoing clash against the USA, Bangladesh on Saturday, January 17, and New Zealand on Saturday, January 24. In the previous edition in 2024, they finished as runners-up, losing to Australia in the final by 79 runs. They will be keen to go the extra mile this time around and clinch the title.

While stars like Vaibhav Suryavanshi and skipper Ayush Mhatre will be in the limelight, several other players have been doing well and will have important roles to play.

That said, here are three lesser-known India players to look forward to at the Under-19 World Cup 2026.

#3 Deepesh Devendran

18-year-old pacer Deepesh Devendran has been in excellent form heading into the Under-19 World Cup 2026. He was India’s leading wicket-taker at the Under-19 Asia Cup 2025/26.

Deepesh claimed 14 wickets from five matches at an average of 11.92 and an economy rate of 4.77 with best figures of 5/22. He also bagged three wickets in the final and contributed with the bat, scoring 36 runs. Deepesh is known for bowling at 135kph and can even clock 140kph at times. Apart from pace, he can nail yorkers and also has slower variations in his armoury.

Deepesh is also part of the Siechem Madurai Panthers in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL).

#2 Abhigyan Kundu

17-year-old wicket-keeper batter Abhigyan Kundu was the leading run-scorer for India at the Under-19 Asia Cup 2025/26. The left-hander scored 276 runs from four innings at an average of 138.00 and a strike rate of 142.26, including a double hundred.

Kundu has been in sublime form with the bat. During India Under-19’s tour of South Africa earlier this year, he scored 90 runs from three innings at an average of 45. Moreover, he displayed impressive form in the two Warm-up matches as well before the Under-19 World Cup.

He scored 55 runs off 48 balls against Scotland Under-19 and backed it up with an 82 off 99 balls against England Under-19.

#1 Aaron George

19-year-old top-order batter Aaron George was India’s second-highest run-getter at the Under-19 Asia Cup 2025/26. The right-hander scored 228 runs from four matches at an average of 76.00 and a strike rate of 104.10 with three half-centuries and a top-score of 85.

He carried his form in the matches against South Africa as well and was the second-highest run-getter with 143 runs from three innings at an average of 47.66 and a strike rate of 108.33, including a century.

Aaron George played the Under-19 World Cup 2026 Warm-up game against Scotland and impressed there as well. He scored 61 runs off 58 balls at a strike rate of 105.17 with eight boundaries.