After creating history in Zimbabwe by clinching India’s record 6th ICC U-19 World Cup title, Captain Ayush Mhatre received the surprise of a lifetime upon his return. The young captain, who led India to a dominant 7-wicket victory over England in the final, recently met the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. In a heartwarming gesture, the ‘Master Blaster’ gifted Ayush his personal Test jersey with a handwritten note: “Dear Ayush, best wishes for your cricketing career.”

Sharing the video of this meeting on Instagram, Ayush expressed his gratitude, stating that holding a piece of history from his childhood idol was an indescribable feeling. He vowed to uphold the values and prestige of Indian cricket, just as Tendulkar did for decades.

Ayush was instrumental in the tournament, leading from the front with a half-century in both the semi-final (62) and the final (53). He ended the campaign as India’s fourth-highest run-getter with 214 runs. However, the standout performer was Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who amassed 439 runs to be crowned ‘Player of the Tournament,’ including a blistering 175 in the final. This triumph reinforces that the future of Indian cricket is indeed in safe and talented hands.