March 6, 2026

Vihaan Manoj Malhotra is the name of a cricketer from India who hails as young gun in youth cricket and International Under-19 tournaments. A left-handed bat and right-arm off-break bowler, he is an all-rounder who plays domestic cricket. With the ability to contribute with both bat and ball, he has also been a key figure in India’s youth cricket structure. Vihaan was Born in Patiala, Punjab, he was introduced to cricket at an early age and made his way through domestic age-group tournaments. His youth competitions performances earned him a spot in the India Under-19 team. He rose to prominence in the 2026 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, where he made pivotal contributions. Eventually, his performances led to his selection in the Indian Premier League, where he was picked by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Possessing sound technique and an all-round game, he is one of the most promising young players to graduate from India’s youth cricket system. Vihaan Manoj Malhotra: Profile Summary Vihaan Manoj Malhotra was born on January 1, 2007 in Patiala, Punjab State, India. He is an all-rounder batsman cricketer from India. He is a left-handed batsman and right-arm off break bowler. He has played for the India Under-19 and India Under-19 A teams, and he also plays domestic youth cricket for Punjab. His notable performances in national youth tournaments and international matches made him noticed among the selectors and cricket analysts. He is another hybrid with the ability to service both batting and bowling, making him a modern-day all-rounder who could bolster more than one area of a cricket team. Vihaan Manoj Malhotra Age (As of 2026) He was born on 1 January 2007, as Vihaan Manoj Malhotra. In 2026, he is already 19 years old. He is only 27, but has already played with India at the U-19 level and made crucial contributions in shoots on the international youth stage. Vihaan Manoj Malhotra Height, Physique and Fitness He is fit and athletically built that enhances his playing style as an all-rounder. He stands at a height of about 5 feet 10 inches (approximately 178 cm) and weighs around 70 kg. Physical fitness is crucial in his career as a professional cricketer. All-rounders need their own fitness for batting, bowling and in the middle on a long match. He practices regularly along with the net practice, strength training, endurance workouts and running drills that enhance multitude of stamina on field. Vihaan Malhotra Family Background Vihaan Malhotra is from a well-educated family based in Punjab. His father, Manoj Malhotra, is an engineer in the Punjab government; his mother, Poonam Malhotra, is a doctor. His parents urged him focussed on education first, and considered cricket as hobby. But his family encouraged him to follow his dream of becoming a professional cricketer after his coaches spotted his natural talent and dedication. With their support, he was able to get proper training and compete in tournaments. Early Life and Struggles He played cricket since early childhood. He started attending a cricket academy in Patiala at the age of about six. His parents had put him in the academy primarily to keep him active. His coaches, however, soon saw the promise and dedication he showed to his sport. He would invest long hours at the cricket ground to hone his skills, as per reports by his coaches, sometimes practicing for several hours a day. He went to school and played cricket at the same time. He was also academically strong and is said to have scored around 95 percent in school examinations. He had stiff competition in age-group cricket, like so many Indian calls of his generation. At one stage, just before the India Under-19 tour of England, he went out of form and was on the verge of getting dropped. After working hard and staying consistent, he got back into form and just kept performing. Domestic Youth Cricket Career He made a name for himself in domestic age-group tournaments before going on to play international youth cricket. He played for Punjab in various age group tournaments and was a performer. His landmark moment was also during the Vijay Merchant Trophy 2022–23 — an esteemed Under-16 tournament in India. In the course of tournament, he made 978 runs and was top scorer of the league. This performance thrust him into national prominence and earned him a place in the India Under-19 team. International Youth Career He made his youth international debut for India Under-19 tour of England in 2025. He scored 243 runs at an average of 48.60 and a strike rate around 99 over five matches in the Youth ODI series. He scored 277 runs in Youth Test matches with an average of 69.25, including a hundred and two fifties. In total international cricket, he has 600+ runs under him with two hundreds, three fifties etc which makes it clear that he is capable of playing consistently in International level as well. ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 Vihaan Malhotra became a sensation in youth cricket after his outing in the 2026 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. He had several key performances in the tournament. Among his feats was a performance of 4 wickets for 14 runs in one match against Bangladesh which earned him the Player of the Match title. Against Zimbabwe, he scored 109 of 107 helping India win by 204 runs. His on-field performances and leadership qualities won him the vice-captaincy of the India Under-19 team for the duration of the tournament. Playing Style Vihaan Malhotra has a very calm and technically favorable batting style. He is a left-handed batsman who plays accordingly, focusing on many runs without hitting too big or running out of wickets and can accelerate the run rate if needed. He is the right-arm off-spin bowler who bowls in the middle overs and tries to confuse batsmen with variations. A powerful batsman and a decent bowler, he is also thought to be one of the most trusted fielders on his team. Vihaan Manoj Malhotra