India’s under-19 side delivered a thrilling display of brilliance in youth Test cricket on July 23, 2025. The side imposed a mammoth 335-run target against the England under-19s during the last day of the Chelmsford Test. India’s youth captain Ayush Mhatre stood out with his remarkable individual performance.
The youngster bagged an impressive 126 runs off 80 balls in an electrifying innings at the Country Ground. He delivered a solid ton in 64 deliveries to shatter several records set in Test cricket at youth level. Mhatre’s remarkable ton eclipsed previous performances put in by eventual greats like Brendon McCullum at the youth level of this sport.
Mhatre’s Charge Eclipses Early Series Struggles for India Youth Team in ODIs
The India under-19s endured an underwhelming outing before this Test series against England. A five-match youth ODI against England saw the youngsters struggle with unconvincing batting displays and inefficient bowling spells.
India’s touring youth side could only secure one win in that series, as their batsmen failed to convert great starts into match winners. Their ODI slump meant something positive was needed immediately from the squad in subsequent matches across any format.
India seeking redemption through Mhatre’s squad in the youth Test is a good start to revamp their chances of dominance in under-19s long-format cricket.
Drama Unfolds on the Final Day at Chelmsford
England’s under-19 side decided to declare at 290/6, and this set the stage for a tough chase at the Country Ground venue. India stepped up to deliver 65 without a loss but quickly saw a surprising dismantling of their top order shortly after.
The Indian side faced a tough task to better 290 runs late into the encounter on that day. Their resilience came to the fore as the squad delivered a set of impressive performances to wow fanbases.
Suryavanshi Golden Duck Dulls India Top Order Charge
The India youth Test team experienced setbacks from the very first ball as star opening batsman Vaibhav Suryavanshi continued in his underwhelming spell fresh from the poor ODI showing. The Rajasthan Royals (RR) batter slightly hit a clear delivery to the slip area and quickly departed after a golden duck.
India’s early setback looked set to derail their hopes of victory; however, the middle order came together to deliver a much-needed rescue under heavy pressure.
Mhatre’s Confidence Fuels India’s Middle Order Charge
Mhatre came onto the fray as India stood at 1 for 1. The young captain took to the crease as an imposing figure and aimed to deliver his side from the jaws of near-certain defeat. 17-year-old Mhatre got off to a flying start with a set of deftly-hit balls. The youngster unleashed a set of cover drives, sweeps, and pulls to get India back into the game. His first boundary came off a long ball and signalled his side’s shift from a cautious start to an all-out attack against their hosts.
Young Captain Mhatre Secures Record-Breaking Ton
Mhatre’s 64-ball ton beat the record set by Brendon McCullum in the modern Test era at youth level. He now stands third in the all-time rankings (behind Moeen Ali and Vaibhav Suryavanshi). It took Moeen Ali 56 balls to land his ton at youth level while Mhatre’s teammate Suryavanshi bagged his historic ton in 58 balls.
Mhatre’s innings included 13 fours and 6 sixes to deliver an unbeaten ton in one of cricket’s fastest-ever batting spells.
Mhatre Delivers Remarkable Six-Hitting Performance to Set New India Record
The youth Test captain bagging 6 sixes set a new record at this level among Indian batters. Mhatre’s record betters Manoj Tiwary’s achievement at youth level for most sixes in a game. Tiwary’s record stood unchallenged for almost 2 decades until Mhatre delivered a better haul with improved accuracy and raw hitting power.
Youth Test Captain Shows Brilliance from First Innings
Mhatre didn’t leave his talent to doubt at the onset of this Test, but showed his capabilities early on at Chelmsford. The youngster bagged a remarkable 80 runs from 90 balls to demonstrate his abilities in long-format cricket. He boosted his hitting game during the chase by unleashing even tougher hitting prowess against the hosts.
Mhatre’s initial performance included deft attempts with sizzling boundaries and a remarkable combination of shots to defeat pace and spin bowling attacks.
Abhigyan Kundu Supports Mhatre’s Impressive Haul
Ayush received much-needed support from his teammate and wicketkeeper-batter Abhigyan Kundu during the series. Kundu produced a 65-run performance from 46 balls to add vital momentum required for his side to mount a tough chase.
