Ayush Mhatre, who led India to the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 title earlier this February, could not play for Mumbai Under-23 team in the Colonel CK Nayudu Trophy match against Odisha. The match started at Sachin Tendulkar Gymkhana in Kandivali, but the World Cup hero was missing.
BCCI’s rule becomes a big blow for Ayush Mhatre!
According to a Mumbai Mirror report, Ayush Mhatre was not eligible to take part in the CK Nayudu Trophy due to Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) rules, even though he had already made his debut for Mumbai’s senior cricket team in the Ranji Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
BCCI rules state that a player must play at least two matches during the season to be eligible to play in the CK Nayudu Trophy. Mhatre did not play any Under-23 matches this season as his calendar was filled with India Under-19 and Mumbai senior team duties.
In today’s Mumbai Mirror 🙂 pic.twitter.com/3eXjz5TuP1
– Gaurav Gupta (@toi_gauravG) 14 February 2026
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This was a big blow for Mumbai, as Mhatre is in great form and has immense confidence. In the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026, he scored 189 runs in seven matches with the help of three half-centuries. Two of them came in the semi-finals and the final.
Not Mhatre but Kundu got the green signal in CK Nayudu Trophy!
Meanwhile, another India Under-19 star Abhigyan Kundu has got a place in the Mumbai Under-23 XI in the CK Nayudu Trophy. The young wicketkeeper-batsman had already played two matches in the season. This made him eligible to participate in the match against Odisha.
Kundu has impressed everyone with his batting in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026, where he scored 239 runs in seven matches, including two fifties.
Earlier, Ayush Mhatre had become the youngest cricketer to score a century in all three formats including First-Class, List A and T20 at the age of just 18. So far, he has played 17 FC, 7 List-A, 13 T20 and 7 IPL matches, in which he has scored 660, 458, 564 and 240 runs respectively.
Sachin Tendulkar’s special gift to Mhatre
Earlier, Ayush Mhatre had met the great cricketer Sachin Tendulkar after returning from Zimbabwe. Master Blaster handed over a very special jersey. The same one he wore in his last Test series for India.
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The message of passing on the legacy to the next generation was clear. Tendulkar told the young player to keep working hard, stay focused, not get distracted and ignore the noise.
Notably, Mhatre will next be seen in action for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026).
Ayush Mhatre aims to debut in Team India through IPL
Behind every talented young player there is a coach who believed in him from the beginning. Prashant Shetty has trained Ayush since he was just nine years old.
Shetty said that Ayush was always serious about cricket. He worked very hard and prepared himself mentally and physically to reach this level. Now the next goal is to make a place in the Indian team by performing strongly in the IPL.