Ahead of the ICC U-19 World Cup semi-final against Afghanistan in Harare, Zimbabwe, Yogesh Mhatre, father of Indian skipper Ayush Mhatre, shared an uplifting message for his son.
‘India’s Strength Lies in Its Balance’
Speaking with mid-day from their home in Vasai, Mhatre Sr expressed his hopes for India’s five-time championship team to maintain their unbeaten streak. “I’ve advised Ayush to stay calm and focused, embracing each moment with a positive attitude. Our Indian squad is well-balanced in both batting and bowling. The camaraderie among the players is exceptional, and everyone is fulfilling their roles effectively. I have faith that they will play confidently in the semi-final and continue their journey towards clinching the tournament for a sixth time,” Mhatre Sr stated on Tuesday.
Ayush Mhatre, known for his aggressive batting style, has accumulated 99 runs in five matches and has also taken six wickets with his skillful off-spin bowling. Fellow Mumbai players Abhigyan Kundu and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi currently lead the run tally, with scores of 199 and 196 respectively. Additionally, promising batter Vihaan Malhotra made headlines with an unbeaten 109 against Zimbabwe, bringing his total to 172 runs in five matches. In the bowling department, pacer Henil Patel shines with 11 wickets, while RS Ambrish and left-arm spinner Khilan Patel have each contributed eight wickets.
‘Learning from MS Dhoni’
At just 18, Ayush played under former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni during the last Indian Premier League (IPL) season with the Chennai Super Kings. Mhatre Sr believes that Ayush is emulating Dhoni’s leadership style to motivate his young teammates. “Ayush maintains strong connections with senior players and aims to lead this U-19 squad as his IPL captain guided him. He frequently discusses specific roles with his teammates and, having played alongside older players since childhood, he effectively manages his team, encouraging them to express their skills freely,” said Yogesh.
‘Encourage Your Team’
Although Yogesh and Ayush frequently communicate over the phone, he fondly recalled their last chat before Ayush’s departure for Zimbabwe. “I told him to stay confident, optimistic, and to bring home the U-19 World Cup for our nation. While individual achievements are commendable, I emphasized the importance of motivating his teammates to excel. I’m hopeful that he’ll be celebrating with the World Cup this Friday.”
Two: Centuries scored by Ayush Mhatre in the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy
240: Runs scored by Ayush Mhatre in seven IPL matches
1: Half-centuries by Mhatre in the ongoing ICC U-19 World Cup
99: Runs scored by Ayush Mhatre in five matches at the current ICC U-19 World Cup.