Vihaan Malhotra Wiki, Age, Height, Net Worth 2026

Vihaan Malhotra is an Indian cricketer and a left-handed opening batter who announced his arrival in senior cricket in spectacular fashion — scoring 103 on his first-class debut for Punjab against Assam in the Ranji Trophy in October 2026. The 19-year-old from Patiala was already a known quantity after starring in India’s victorious ICC Under-19 World Cup campaign in Zimbabwe earlier in 2026, and he is on the books of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL. With a debut hundred, an international age-group trophy and an IPL contract before the age of 20, Malhotra is one of the brightest young batting prospects in the Indian system. He belongs to a generation of prodigies breaking through across sports, like tennis star Alex Eala.

Early Life and Education

Vihaan Malhotra was born on 1 January 2007 in Patiala, Punjab, according to his Cricbuzz profile, which also lists his height at 5 ft 9 in. He grew up in Patiala, where he trained at local cricket academies and came through the Punjab Cricket Association’s age-group structure. According to myKhel, Malhotra debuted for Punjab’s Under-16 side at the age of 14 and helped the team reach the All-India U-16 Championship finals, marking him early as a player to watch.

His progression through the ranks was swift. He moved up to Punjab’s Under-19 setup and then to India’s Under-19 squads.

Career

Vihaan Malhotra’s age-group career peaked in 2026. He was a member of the Indian team that won the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Zimbabwe in February 2026, with india.com describing him as part of the championship-winning squad. During the tournament he delivered one of India’s defining individual performances: a Player-of-the-Match display against Bangladesh on 17 January 2026, taking 4 for 14 and holding a spectacular catch to close out the innings, as reported by myKhel.

Malhotra’s franchise breakthrough followed his youth success. He was signed by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the IPL 2026 season for ₹30 lakh, according to crictrends.in and crickettop.com. He told The Indian Express that one of his key conversations at RCB was with mentor and batting coach Dinesh Karthik, whom he asked what he needed to keep in mind to make a smooth transition from juniors to seniors. “I was coming into the IPL after the Under-19 World Cup, and one of the major conversations I had with Dinesh Karthik sir was about how to be ready for all three formats and the transition from Under-19 to the senior level,” Malhotra said, as quoted by india.com and The Times of Bengal.

His first-class debut arrived in the opening round of the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy. With Punjab’s regular opener Prabhsimran Singh away on India A duty, Malhotra was handed his chance at the top of the order against Assam at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, as reported by The Indian Express. He seized it completely. Opening the innings, the 19-year-old scored 103 off 208 balls with 11 fours, sharing a 137-run opening stand with Harnoor Singh (54) and later adding 58 with captain Uday Saharan, as detailed by Sportstar. The Indian Express described the knock as evidence that he would not be “one of them” — the India Under-19 cricketers who fall by the wayside.

The match itself ended in a draw. Assam had posted 373 in their first innings, powered by centuries from Denish Das (103) and Sibsankar Roy (143 not out), with veteran Umesh Yadav taking 5 for 70 for Punjab, according to The Tribune. Malhotra’s debut hundred was widely identified as the innings that kept Punjab in the contest, as noted by Sportstar.

Beyond the numbers, Malhotra’s debut was notable for its temperament. Batting through the morning session against an experienced attack, he blended patience with fluent off-side strokeplay — the languid left-hander’s hallmark, as observed by Sportstar. He has said the hundred gave him enormous confidence for his first Ranji season: “A century in my debut match gives a lot of confidence,” he told The Indian Express.

Personal Life

Vihaan Malhotra keeps his personal life private, and little is publicly confirmed beyond his cricket career. He is reported by profile sites to come from a supportive Punjabi family in Patiala, but his parents’ and siblings’ details have not been verified by major news outlets, and he is single with no publicly known relationship. What is on record is his studious approach to the game: seeking out advice from Dinesh Karthik about managing the jump to senior cricket, and studying the games of Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill, as he told The Indian Express. Like fellow rising star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, he belongs to a new generation of Indian batters who reached the IPL in their teens.

Vihaan Malhotra Net Worth 2026

Vihaan Malhotra’s net worth is not publicly disclosed, and no reliable official figure exists. Some unofficial fan-run cricket profile websites have floated early-career estimates, but these are not attributed to verifiable sources and should be treated with caution. His known earnings come from his IPL contract with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru — reported at ₹30 lakh for the 2026 season — along with domestic match fees from the Punjab Cricket Association and BCCI youth contracts.

FAQ

What is Vihaan Malhotra’s age?

Vihaan Malhotra is 19 years old as of October 2026. He was born on 1 January 2007 in Patiala, Punjab, according to his Cricbuzz profile.

What did Vihaan Malhotra score on his Ranji Trophy debut?

On his first-class debut for Punjab against Assam at Mullanpur in October 2026, Vihaan Malhotra scored 103 off 208 balls with 11 fours. He shared a 137-run opening partnership with Harnoor Singh (54), as reported by Sportstar and The Indian Express.

Was Vihaan Malhotra part of India’s U19 World Cup-winning team?

Yes. Vihaan Malhotra was a member of the Indian squad that won the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Zimbabwe in February 2026. His standout performance came against Bangladesh, where he took 4 for 14 and was named Player of the Match, as reported by myKhel.

Which IPL team does Vihaan Malhotra play for?

Vihaan Malhotra plays for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL. He was signed for the IPL 2026 season for ₹30 lakh, according to cricket profile sites crictrends.in and crickettop.com.

What did Dinesh Karthik advise Vihaan Malhotra?

Malhotra told The Indian Express that he asked RCB mentor and batting coach Dinesh Karthik how to transition smoothly from juniors to seniors. Their conversations centred on being ready for all three formats and carrying Under-19 World Cup confidence into senior cricket.

Who are Vihaan Malhotra’s favourite cricketers?

Vihaan Malhotra has said he admires Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill, as reported by The Indian Express. The Kohli connection is fitting, as both are associated with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise.