Vihaan Malhotra

Vihaan Malhotra is a 19-year-old batting all-rounder from Patiala, Punjab, who was signed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for ₹30 lakh at the IPL 2026 auction. A prolific left-handed batter and a useful right-arm off-break bowler, Malhotra has quickly earned the title of a 'crisis man' for his ability to anchor innings and accelerate under pressure. He enters the 2026 season with massive momentum, having served as the Vice-Captain of the India Under-19 team that clinched a record-extending sixth World Cup title in February 2026.

Malhotra’s rise in the youth international circuit has been defined by standout performances in clutch matches. During the 2026 Under-19 World Cup, he was a pillar of the middle order, most notably smashing an unbeaten 109 off 107 balls* against Zimbabwe. He followed this up with an exhilarating 61 off 45 balls* in the U-19 Asia Cup semi-final against Sri Lanka to secure India’s place in the final. A student of BBA at Chitkara University and a protégé of former U-19 star Ravneet Ricky, Vihaan has long dreamed of sharing a dressing room with his idol, Virat Kohli—a dream that becomes reality this season at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. With a Youth ODI average of 50.06 and a growing reputation for tactical maturity, he is viewed as one of RCB's most promising domestic 'X-factor' investments.