Vihaan Malhotra

Vihaan Malhotra's rise in cricket is built on a blend of discipline, adaptability, and early promise. He grew up in a family where academics were a priority, with his father an engineer and his mother a doctor. Cricket began as a simple way to keep him engaged and away from screens, but it didn't take long for him to stand out and catch coaches' attention.

A naturally gifted left-handed batter and a right-arm off-break bowler, Vihaan's game evolved significantly between 2022 and 2023. He started as an opening batter but soon transitioned into a middle-order role for the Punjab Under-16 and Under-19 teams, showing the temperament to handle pressure and anchor innings when required.

The defining phase of his young career came during India's title-winning campaign at the 2026 ICC Under-19 World Cup. Serving as the team's vice-captain, Vihaan produced two standout performances. Against Bangladesh, he turned the game with the ball, picking up 4 for 14 to trigger a collapse after missing out with the bat earlier. He followed it up with a composed unbeaten 109 off 107 balls against Zimbabwe, becoming the first Indian centurion of the tournament.

These performances highlighted his all-round value and showed why Royal Challengers Bengaluru invested in him at the auction ahead of the 2026 IPL season.