Sachin Tendulkar presents Ayush Mhatre with special signed jersey after leading India to U19 World Cup title

India’s Under-19 World Cup-winning captain Ayush Mhatre received a moment he will cherish for a lifetime upon his return to Mumbai, as cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar honoured him with a deeply personal gesture. Following India’s triumphant U19 World Cup campaign in Zimbabwe, where they clinched their sixth title by defeating England in the final, Mhatre met Tendulkar and was presented with the former batter’s Test jersey.

What made the gesture even more special was the significance behind the gift. Tendulkar revealed that the jersey was one he wore during his final Test series, offering it to Mhatre as a symbol of inspiration and a reminder of the journey that lies ahead. The gift was accompanied by a handwritten note from the Indian great, aimed at motivating the young captain to continue progressing towards the senior national team.

"Keep working hard. Focus. Don’t get carried away by people. Keep practising. Focus has to be there. There will be plenty of distractions, whatever they may be,” Tendulkar told Mhatre in the video as quoted by Sports Today.

"Dear Ayush, wishing you all the success in your career," he added.

Watch the video of the moment between Sachin Tendulkar and Ayush Mhatre here

Mhatre later shared the interaction on social media, expressing his gratitude and emotions after meeting his childhood idol.

"I grew up watching you through a screen. Today, I stand at your home, holding a piece of your journey in my hands. Thank you, Sir, for this honour. I will carry this with the same respect you carried Indian cricket for years," Mhatre wrote.

The Indian Under-19 squad received a warm reception upon returning home, with celebrations reflecting the pride surrounding their World Cup triumph. In Virar, Mhatre was welcomed by family, friends, and neighbours, while teammate Udhav Mohan received a hero’s welcome in New Delhi.

Notably, the 18-year-old led from the front throughout the tournament, particularly in the knockout stages. He scored 62 off 59 balls in the semi-final against Afghanistan and followed it up with a composed 53 off 51 in the final against England. Across seven innings, he accumulated 214 runs at an average of 30.57, finishing as India’s fourth-highest run-scorer.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi was the standout performer of the tournament, earning the Player of the Tournament award after amassing 439 runs, including a sensational 175 in the final featuring 15 fours and 15 sixes.