Ayush Mhatre Blocked From Playing Crucial Tournament by BCCI

Ayush Mhatre MS Dhoni for CSK In IPL, Devajit Saikia for BCCI. Image Credits: XIn a surprising turn of events, young cricket star Ayush Mhatre was not allowed to play in an important domestic tournament because of a rule set by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). This decision came as a shock to many, especially since Mhatre recently led India to victory in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026.Why is Ayush Mhatre not allowed?To begin with, Ayush Mhatre was supposed to play for Mumbai’s Under-23 team in the CK Nayudu Trophy match against Odisha. The match took place at the Sachin Tendulkar Gymkhana, but he was missing from the team lineup.The reason behind his absence was a BCCI eligibility rule. According to this rule, a player must play at least two matches in the Under-23 category during the season to qualify for the CK Nayudu Trophy. However, Mhatre did not play any Under-23 matches this season. This happened because he was busy representing India in the Under-19 World Cup and also playing for Mumbai’s senior team in major tournaments like the Ranji Trophy and the SMAT.As a result, even though he had already made his debut in senior-level cricket, he was declared ineligible for the Under-23 tournament. Therefore, the rule became a major setback for both Mhatre and the Mumbai team.Moreover, this decision came at a time when Ayush Mhatre was in excellent form. During the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026, he performed brilliantly. He scored important runs in crucial matches, especially during the knockout stages.For instance, he scored 62 runs in the semi-final against Afghanistan and 53 runs in the final against England. Overall, he scored 214 runs in seven innings, maintaining a solid average. Because of his consistent performance, he became India’s fourth-highest run-scorer in the tournament.Naturally, Mumbai would have benefited from having such a confident and in-form player in their Under-23 squad. However, due to the strict rule, they had to move forward without him.Abhigyan Kundu gets green signalOn the other hand, another Under-19 player, Abhigyan Kundu, was allowed to play in the CK Nayudu Trophy. Unlike Mhatre, Kundu had already played two Under-23 matches earlier in the season. Therefore, he met the eligibility criteria set by the BCCI.Kundu also had a strong World Cup campaign. He scored 239 runs in seven matches, including two half-centuries. As a result, he earned his place in the Mumbai Under-23 playing XI.Meanwhile, after winning the World Cup, the Indian Under-19 team received a grand welcome back home. Mhatre was warmly welcomed in Virar by his family, friends, and neighbours. Similarly, his teammate Udhav Mohan received a hero’s reception in New Delhi.Ayush Mhatre’s rising careerIn addition to his World Cup success, Mhatre has already made history at a young age. He became the youngest cricketer to score centuries in all three formats, First-Class, List A, and T20, at just 18 years old.So far, he has played 17 First-Class matches, 7 List-A games, 13 T20 matches, and 7 IPL matches. Across these formats, he has scored impressive runs, proving that he is one of India’s most promising young talents.