Despite being a powerhouse in the cricketing world and having clinched the Men’s Under-19 World Cup title five times, India has yet to host the prestigious tournament. Since its inception in 1988, originally known as the Youth Cricket World Cup, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has organized this biennial event 15 times, including the current edition in South Africa. Furthermore, the inaugural U19 Women’s T20 World Cup took place in South Africa in 2023. This raises the question: Why has India, a nation that has contributed significantly to the tournament’s success and seen the emergence of cricketing stars like Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Rishabh Pant through its ranks, never hosted the junior World Cup?
The Under-19 World Cup has seen a variety of host nations over the years. South Africa and New Zealand have each welcomed participants three times, while Australia, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh have hosted the event twice. The tournament has also been held in the West Indies and by associate nations such as Malaysia and the UAE. The 2026 edition is set to take place in Zimbabwe and Namibia, further expanding the geographical diversity of host countries.
Amidst this backdrop, Sourav Ganguly, the former President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and a notable figure in the cricketing community, offered his insights on the matter. In a conversation with RevSportz ahead of the Men’s U19 World Cup final between India and Australia in Benoni, Ganguly shed light on the rationale behind the selection of host countries for the tournament.
Initially, Ganguly suggested that the decision to allocate the Under-19 World Cup to various countries was influenced by a desire to promote cricket in regions where senior World Cups are less frequently held. This approach, according to the former India captain, is aimed at expanding the game’s reach and fostering its development in new territories.
However, Ganguly also highlighted a more pragmatic aspect of hosting the tournament. He described the U19 World Cup as a “loss-making tournament” for host nations, emphasizing that most World Cups not featuring the senior men’s teams tend to be non-profit ventures. Despite this financial consideration, Ganguly clarified that the lack of profitability was not the primary reason India has not hosted the Under-19 World Cup. He hinted at the possibility of the tournament being held in India in the future, suggesting that financial concerns alone have not deterred the BCCI from considering hosting duties.
Ganguly’s comments came as India prepared to face Australia in the final of the Under-19 World Cup at Willowmoore Park. The defending champions, India, had secured their spot in the final after a challenging match against the hosts, South Africa, in the semifinal. Australia, on the other hand, earned their place in the final by narrowly defeating Pakistan. With India aiming for an unprecedented sixth title and Australia seeking their fourth, the final promised to be a thrilling encounter between two cricketing giants.
The decision not to host the Under-19 World Cup in India, despite the country’s significant contributions to the tournament’s history and the development of numerous cricket stars, reflects a complex interplay of factors. From the strategic promotion of cricket in less-frequented regions to the financial implications of organizing such events, the considerations behind selecting host nations are multifaceted. As the cricketing community continues to evolve and expand its global footprint, the possibility of India hosting future editions of the Under-19 World Cup remains an intriguing prospect. With Ganguly’s insights shedding light on the matter, the discussion around hosting duties underscores the broader efforts to nurture the sport’s growth worldwide, ensuring its vitality for generations to come.
In essence, the dialogue surrounding India’s potential to host the Under-19 World Cup encapsulates broader themes within the cricketing ecosystem. The balance between promoting the sport globally and managing the economic realities of hosting tournaments is a delicate one. As cricket’s governing bodies navigate these challenges, the prospect of India hosting the Under-19 World Cup symbolizes not just a milestone for the nation’s cricketing community but also a step toward further internationalizing the sport. Such developments promise to enrich cricket’s legacy, offering new opportunities for emerging talents worldwide and ensuring the game’s enduring appeal. The anticipation of India possibly hosting the tournament in the future remains a testament to the country’s pivotal role in cricket’s past, present, and future, highlighting its continuous commitment to fostering the sport’s growth on a global scale.