Australia squad for ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026 announced, two Indian-origin players added

Aryan Sharma and John James have been named in Australia’s squad for the Under-19 ODI World Cup.

Cricket Australia (CA) has announced their 15-member squad for the forthcoming ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026, which will commence next month in January. Interestingly, two Indian players have been named in the Australia U-19 squad for the tournament, where the defending champions will aim for a consecutive title.

Aryan Sharma, an Indian-origin player, is a left-handed batsman and slow left-arm spinner, while John James is a right-arm medium-pace all rounder. Both were part of the Australia squad that toured India for youth tests and ODIs in September. Their stand-out performances in the campaign and National U-19 Championships helped them to secure a spot in the World Cup squad.

Moreover, two Sri Lankan-origin players- Naden Cooray and Nitesh Samuel- are part of the Australia squad, while a Chinese-origin player Alex Lee Young has also been included in the side. The team will be led by Oliver Peake.

Australia squad for Under-19 World Cup 2026:

Oliver Peake (C), Aryan Sharma, John James, Kasey Barton,  Naden Cooray, Jayden Draper, Ben Gordon, Steven Hogan, Thomas Hogan, Charles Lachmund, Will Malajczuk, Nitesh Samuel, Hayden Schiller, William Taylor, Alex Lee Young.

We’re delighted to announce a strong and well-balanced squad: Australia U-19 coach

Australia U-19 head coach Tim Nielsen feels that they have a well-balanced side, which gives them the best chance of success in the tournament.

“We’re delighted to announce a strong and well-balanced squad for the ICC Under-19 World Cup. Our focus has been on selecting a group with complementary skill sets that provide the best chance of success. The World Cup is a fantastic opportunity for these young cricketers to showcase their talent and test themselves against the best in the world,” he said in an official statement.

Australia have been placed in Group A alongside Japan, Ireland, and Sri Lanka in the multi-national campaign, which will be hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6, 2026. The ICC tournament will feature 16 teams battling for the title, with the final scheduled to be played at Harare Sports Club. Australia crushed India by 79 runs in the final of the previous edition in 2024.

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