Table of Contents
There is a train that leaves Virar station before 4 AM every morning. It runs south towards the heart of Mumbai. It takes nearly two hours to reach Churchgate. For years a young boy from Nallasopara caught that train before sunrise, carried his cricket kit on his back, and got to the nets before most of his city was awake.
That boy is Ayush Mhatre. He is 18 years old. He is Chennai Super Kings’ youngest player of all time. He captained India to the Under-19 World Cup title in 2026. He scored 94 off 48 balls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL. He is the third cricketer in history — after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Prithvi Shaw — to score two fifties in the IPL before turning 19.
The train still runs. The story has just started.
AYUSH MHATRE BIOGRAPHY
QUICK PROFILE
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Ayush Yogesh Mhatre |
| Date of Birth | July 16 2007 |
| Age | 18 years old as of June 2026. He turns 19 on July 16 2026. |
| Birthplace | Nallasopara near Virar, Mumbai Suburban District, Maharashtra |
| Height | 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) |
| Weight | Approximately 68 to 70 kg |
| Role | Right-handed opening batter and right-arm off-break bowler |
| Batting | Right-handed |
| Bowling | Right-arm off-break |
| Jersey Number | 56 for India U19 and Chennai Super Kings |
| Domestic Team | Mumbai |
| IPL Team | Chennai Super Kings (2025 and 2026) |
| IPL Price | 30 lakhs (retained for IPL 2026) |
| Favourite Cricketer | Rohit Sharma |
| Coach | Dinesh Lad and Prashant Shetty |
| Academy | Dilip Vengsarkar Cricket Academy near Wankhede Stadium |
Source: ESPNcricinfo
Family
Ayush Mhatre comes from a Marathi Hindu family in Nallasopara — a suburb on the western railway line of Mumbai, far from the glamour of Wankhede Stadium and the bright lights of the IPL.
His father Yogesh Mhatre worked in a bank. When it became clear that Ayush had serious talent he gave up his banking job entirely to focus on supporting his son’s cricket. That meant driving him to training, managing his schedule and being present at every match. It is not the kind of sacrifice that gets talked about in press conferences. It is the kind that happens quietly and changes everything.
His mother Jagruti Mhatre works at Stride Industries LLP. She kept the family financially stable while Yogesh focused on Ayush’s cricket. In interviews Ayush has spoken about how both his parents sacrificed different things to give him the best possible chance.
His maternal grandfather Laxmikant Anand Naik played a key role in Ayush’s early cricket. When his parents were at work it was his grandfather who took him to training. He is the unseen figure in this story — the one who made sure the sessions happened even when the schedule was complicated.
Ayush has one brother who also supports his cricket journey.
The Daily Commute That Defined Him
Nallasopara is not a cricket hub. There is no famous cricket academy on the doorstep. The schools there are good but the facilities for elite training are not. If you want to be a serious cricketer from Virar you have to travel.
For Ayush that meant waking up before 4 AM and catching the first suburban train to Churchgate. The journey is roughly 45 to 60 kilometres. It takes nearly two hours each way in the morning crowd. He did this every single day to reach the Dilip Vengsarkar Cricket Academy near Wankhede Stadium.
Two hours each way. Four hours of travel every day. Before school. Before anything else.
He did this for years.
In interviews he has spoken about the train journey not as a hardship but as part of his routine. He used the time to prepare mentally for training. He studied on the train. He listened to music. He made it work.
Rohit Sharma makes the same journey in his memories he grew up in Borivali and Dombivli before cricket changed his life. The western line has produced more than its fair share of cricket talent.
Education
Ayush went to St Joseph’s School in Virar then Don Bosco High School in Matunga, Mumbai. As cricket started consuming more of his time he moved to Rizvi Springfield School and then IES VN Sule Guruji. Eventually he switched to homeschooling to manage the demands of training, domestic cricket and his growing cricket career properly.
This is a decision many elite young cricketers face. The classroom or the cricket pitch. Ayush chose both by restructuring his schooling around his sport. It takes discipline and a very supportive family environment to make that work. He had both.
Early Cricket Career
Ayush started playing cricket at a very young age in Nallasopara. He joined the Dilip Vengsarkar Cricket Academy which is based near the Churchgate area of South Mumbai hence the daily 4 AM train journey.
His talent was obvious from the beginning. He was an aggressive right-handed opener who backed his instincts from ball one. His coaches Dinesh Lad and Prashant Shetty worked on his technique while preserving his natural attacking instincts. This balance — technical foundation with attacking freedom is what makes him so watchable.
He made his mark in the India Under-19 setup with three appearances at the 2024 Asia Cup. But it was in first-class cricket where he turned heads first.
First Class and List A Career
Ayush Mhatre made his first-class debut in October 2024 for Mumbai in the Irani Cup. He scored 176 against Maharashtra — a team captained by Ruturaj Gaikwad of all people. On a turning track against Baroda in Vadodara he scored a composed 52. Two very different innings. Two very different conditions. Both impressive.
In 13 first-class appearances Ayush has scored 660 runs at an average of 30 including two centuries.
His List A record is even better. In 7 innings he has scored 458 runs at an average of 65.42 and a strike rate of 135.50. Those are extraordinary numbers for a teenage batter making his way in domestic cricket.
The standout List A performance came in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024 to 2025 when he scored 181 against Nagaland. He became the youngest player ever to score 150 or above in men’s List A cricket anywhere in the world. The previous youngest was much older. This was a record that announced him to Indian cricket in the clearest possible terms.
India Under-19 — World Cup Winning Captain
Ayush Mhatre captained India Under-19 to their sixth Under-19 World Cup title in 2026 — India’s record-extending sixth title. He led from the front with both bat and leadership throughout the tournament.
This achievement put him in the company of the greatest Indian cricket captains at youth level. To captain a country to a World Cup title at any level requires maturity, tactical thinking and the ability to manage personalities. Ayush did it at 18.
The U19 World Cup win was the moment that turned him from an exciting prospect into a genuine talking point for senior cricket selection in the near future.
IPL 2025 — The Debut That Changed Everything
Ayush Mhatre was unsold at the IPL 2025 auction. He was 17 years old and did not attract a bid. Then Chennai Super Kings’ captain Ruturaj Gaikwad suffered an injury mid-season. CSK signed Ayush as a replacement player for 30 lakhs.
His IPL debut came on April 20 2025 against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium. His home ground. In front of his home crowd. This was also his very first T20 match of any kind — he had never played a T20 before this day.
He walked in and scored 32 off 15 balls. Two sixes. Four boundaries. No hesitation. No fear.
MS Dhoni was watching from the dugout. He said after the match: “I feel right from the start he just wanted to play his shots.” From Dhoni, that is the highest possible praise for a young batter.
Later that season against Royal Challengers Bengaluru he scored 94 off 48 balls. He needed 6 off the last ball to reach his century. He could not get there. 94 remains his highest score in any format. He was 17 years old.
In IPL 2025 he scored 240 runs in 7 matches. His strike rate was exceptional throughout. CSK retained him for IPL 2026 at 30 lakhs.
IPL 2026 — The Confirmation Season
IPL 2026 began difficult for Ayush. He was dismissed for a duck against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati in the season opener. It happens to every young batter.
He responded the way great players respond. Against Punjab Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai — his first home game of IPL 2026 — he scored 73 off 41 balls. He reached his fifty in just 29 balls. He hit four sixes and four boundaries. His strike rate was 179.31.
At 18 years and 261 days he became the youngest batter to score a fifty at Chepauk — one of the most famous cricket grounds in India.
He finished IPL 2026 with 441 runs in 13 matches at an average of 33.92 and a strike rate that shows he never stopped attacking. Three fifties. Highest score 94.
Total IPL career: 13 matches, 441 runs, average 33.92, 3 fifties, highest score 94, 51 fours, 23 sixes.
Also Read- Harshit Rana Biography, Age, Height, IPL Team, Family & Caste
IPL Career Stats
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 13 |
| Innings Batted | 13 |
| Runs Scored | 441 |
| Batting Average | 33.92 |
| Strike Rate | 150+ |
| Highest Score | 94 |
| 50+ Scores | 3 |
| Total Fours | 51 |
| Total Sixes | 23 |
| IPL Franchise | Chennai Super Kings |
| IPL Seasons | 2025 & 2026 (Chennai Super Kings) |
| IPL Salary | ₹30 Lakhs (Both Seasons) |
First Class Career Stats
| First-Class Cricket Statistics | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 13 |
| Runs | 660 |
| Centuries | 2 |
| Batting Average | 30.00 |
| Notable Performance | 176 on First-Class debut for Mumbai in the Irani Cup 2024 |
List A Career Stats
| List A Cricket Statistics | Record |
|---|---|
| Innings | 7 |
| Runs | 458 |
| Batting Average | 65.42 |
| Strike Rate | 135.50 |
| Highest Score | 181 vs Nagaland (Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024–25) |
| Major Record | Youngest-ever player to score 150+ in Men’s List A cricket worldwide |
Also Read- Shreyas Iyer Biography: Age, Height, Stats, Wife, IPL Career, India Career and Records
Records and Achievements
Youngest player ever in CSK’s history to play an IPL match — debut in 2025 at 17 years old.
Youngest ever to score 150 or above in men’s List A cricket — 181 vs Nagaland, Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024 to 2025.
Third cricketer after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Prithvi Shaw to score two fifties in the IPL before turning 19.
Youngest batter to score a fifty at the MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) in the IPL — 73 vs Punjab Kings in IPL 2026, aged 18 years and 261 days.
His score of 73 against Punjab Kings is the third highest by any batter in the IPL before turning 19. His own 94 against RCB is second. Sooryavanshi’s 101 against Gujarat Titans leads the list.
India Under-19 World Cup winning captain 2026.
The Rohit Sharma Moment
Ayush has spoken publicly about Rohit Sharma being his idol since childhood. After his IPL debut against Mumbai Indians — Rohit’s team — they spoke in the dressing rooms after the match.
Rohit praised his batting, gave him a few tips on playing the short ball and told him to keep playing the way he had been. He said Ayush could call him any time without hesitation.
For a 17-year-old from Nallasopara who had been taking the 4 AM train to the nets for years that conversation with his childhood idol meant everything. Ayush has said it helped calm his nerves at a moment when the entire cricket world was suddenly watching him.
What MS Dhoni Said
There is no better judge of a young batter’s temperament than MS Dhoni. He has seen every kind of talent come through the CSK system over nearly two decades. He does not hand out praise easily.
After Ayush’s IPL debut Dhoni said: “I feel right from the start he just wanted to play his shots.”
That sentence says everything. Not “he looked nervous but played well.” Not “he needs to develop.” He just wanted to play his shots. In his very first T20 match. Against professional international bowlers. In front of 40000 people at Wankhede.
That temperament is either there or it is not. Dhoni recognised it immediately.
What Makes Him Special
He attacks from ball one. He does not wait to get set before he starts scoring. In his first ever T20 match he scored 32 off 15 balls. Against an experienced RCB pace attack he scored 94 off 48. Against Punjab Kings in his first Chennai home game he scored 73 off 41.
He times the ball beautifully. His cover drive and pull shot through midwicket are his favourite strokes — not power for its own sake but clean timing through the line. He also hits over the top when the bowler overpitches. He has no obvious weakness against pace or spin that bowlers have been able to exploit consistently.
He is composed. For a teenager playing in front of massive IPL crowds this composure is the thing that stands out most. No visible nerves. No tentative playing in the early balls. He trusts himself from the first delivery.
What Comes Next
Ayush Mhatre is 18 years old. He has already won an Under-19 World Cup as captain, become CSK’s youngest player of all time, scored 441 IPL runs and set the record for the youngest player to score 150 in men’s List A cricket globally.
None of this means his senior India career is guaranteed. The gap between Under-19 cricket and senior international cricket is real. The step from IPL runs to Test matches or T20Is is significant. He knows this.
But the trajectory is clear. The talent is real. The temperament is rare. The work ethic — the 4 AM train from Nallasopara, the two-hour daily journey, the hours in the nets at the Dilip Vengsarkar Academy — is already proven.
Ayush Mhatre is not a prospect. He is already delivering. The question is not whether he reaches the top of Indian cricket. The question is how soon.
FANTASY
11
Q: How old is Ayush Mhatre?
A: Ayush Mhatre is 18 years old as of June 2026. He was born on July 16 2007 and turns 19 on July 16 2026.
Q: Where is Ayush Mhatre from?
A: Ayush Mhatre is from Nallasopara in the Virar area of Mumbai Suburban District in Maharashtra. He comes from a Marathi Hindu family. He is not from South Mumbai or any famous cricket-producing area. He used to travel nearly two hours each way by train from Virar to the Dilip Vengsarkar Cricket Academy near Wankhede Stadium.
Q: Who is Ayush Mhatre’s father?
A: Ayush Mhatre’s father is Yogesh Mhatre, a former bank employee who resigned from his banking job to support his son’s cricket career. His mother is Jagruti Mhatre who works at Stride Industries LLP. His maternal grandfather Laxmikant Anand Naik also played a key role in taking him to training when his parents were at work.
Q: What is Ayush Mhatre’s highest IPL score?
A: Ayush Mhatre’s highest IPL score is 94 off 48 balls. He scored it against Royal Challengers Bengaluru during IPL 2025. He needed 6 off the last ball to score a century and could not get there. It remains the second highest score by any batter in the IPL before turning 19 — behind Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 101.
Q: What is Ayush Mhatre’s IPL price?
A: Ayush Mhatre was signed by Chennai Super Kings as a mid-season replacement during IPL 2025 for 30 lakhs. CSK retained him for IPL 2026 at the same price of 30 lakhs. He is extremely underpriced relative to his production.
Q: What records has Ayush Mhatre set?
A: Ayush Mhatre is the youngest player in CSK’s history to play an IPL match. He is the youngest player ever to score 150 or above in men’s List A cricket — his 181 vs Nagaland in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024 to 2025. He is the third player after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Prithvi Shaw to score two fifties in the IPL before turning 19. He is the youngest to score an IPL fifty at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Q: Did Ayush Mhatre captain India in the Under-19 World Cup?
A: Yes. Ayush Mhatre captained India Under-19 to the 2026 Under-19 World Cup title — India’s record sixth U19 World Cup. He led from the front as both captain and key batter throughout the tournament.
Q: What is Ayush Mhatre’s total IPL career runs?
A: Ayush Mhatre has scored 441 runs in 13 IPL matches at an average of 33.92. He has scored 3 fifties and hit 51 fours and 23 sixes. His highest IPL score is 94.
Q: What did MS Dhoni say about Ayush Mhatre?
A: After Ayush Mhatre’s IPL debut — also his first ever T20 match — MS Dhoni said: “I feel right from the start he just wanted to play his shots.” This was after Mhatre scored 32 off 15 balls against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on April 20 2025.
Q: What did Rohit Sharma say to Ayush Mhatre?
A: After Ayush Mhatre’s IPL debut against Mumbai Indians Rohit Sharma spoke to him in the dressing room. He praised his batting, gave him tips on playing the short ball and told him to keep playing the way he had been. He also told Ayush he could call him any time without hesitation. Ayush has said this conversation helped calm his nerves enormously at a critical moment in his career.