Rohit Sharma guided me on captaincy at his home, says Ayush Mhatre

Ayush Mhatre was appointed captain of India's squad for the 2026 U19 World Cup, where he led the team to a record-extending sixth title. India defeated England by 100 runs in the final, with opening batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi playing a crucial role in the victory. After receiving the captaincy responsibility, Mhatre sought guidance from senior players to prepare himself for leading the team.

Mhatre revealed in a podcast with former cricketer Aakash Chopra that he reached out to Rohit Sharma for advice following his U19 captaincy appointment. During the IPL, Rohit had told the young batter that he could contact him anytime. When Mhatre texted Rohit after being named captain, Rohit responded by calling him directly.

Rohit invested considerable time discussing the nuances of captaincy with Mhatre during their meeting at his residence. The India captain demonstrated his commitment to supporting the young leader by also speaking with Mhatre's father. Mhatre expressed appreciation for Rohit's willingness to help despite his demanding schedule.

"After the IPL, I was named U-19 captain. I had not much idea about it. So I texted Rohit bhai. He had told me I could call or message him whenever I wanted to talk during the IPL. He called me then. I told him I wanted to meet and talk. He told me to come to his home. Then I sat and spoke a lot with him," said Mhatre as quoted by NDTV Sports.

"He explained things to me very well and how to handle the team as a captain and all of that. He took the time and spoke well. He spoke for half an hour to my dad as well. He is humble and always available to talk," he added.

Mhatre's progression in professional cricket

Mhatre progressed in his professional cricket career following this mentorship, making his first-class debut for Chennai Super Kings in 2025. The young batter has featured in 13 IPL matches and accumulated 441 runs, with a highest individual score of 94. Recalling his first meeting with MS Dhoni, Mhatre revealed that he was initially hesitant to approach the legendary former India captain.

"I saw Mahi bhai live for the first time and I actually got scared. Even now, it is there a bit. He talks freely, but he is a legend. I wanted to get a picture with him but could not understand how to approach him. It was the last day of the trials, and then I just went. I got a picture with him then. I did not talk to him as such. It was only the picture," Mhatre said.