Lakshya Raichandani is the captain of the India Under-19 team and one of the most talked-about young batters in the country right now. The 18-year-old opener led India into the final of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2026 against Pakistan, scoring a match-winning 93 in the semi-final along the way. With the next Under-19 World Cup cycle ahead, many fans want to know more about the boy from Gonda who is leading India’s next generation.
Here is a complete look at Lakshya Raichandani’s family, including his father, mother, brother and grandfather, along with his journey and his best performances as a batter and captain.
Lakshya Raichandani Family at a Glance
| Full name | Lakshya Rajesh Raichandani |
| Date of birth | October 15, 2008 |
| Age | 18 years |
| Birthplace | Gonda, Uttar Pradesh |
| Father | Rajesh Raichandani |
| Mother | Lakshmi Raichandani |
| Sibling | One elder brother |
| Grandfather | Tulsidas Raichandani (former MLA) |
| Role | Right-handed opening batter, off-spinner |
| Teams | India U19 (captain), Uttarakhand |
Lakshya Raichandani’s Father: Rajesh Raichandani
Lakshya’s father, Rajesh Raichandani, is the man behind his cricket journey. Rajesh has been involved in district-level politics in Gonda, and it was his wish that the younger of his two sons should become a cricketer.
He has spoken about how it all started with a toy. “When Lakshya was five, we bought him a bat as a toy. He used to practise batting on his own by hitting a ball against a wall,” he said in an interview.
As Lakshya’s talent became clear, the family looked at academies in their home region and in Delhi, before choosing the GNG Academy in Haldwani, Uttarakhand. Sending a young child away to train was not an easy decision. “The first couple of years were very difficult for us because it is not easy to keep a young child away from his mother,” Rajesh recalled.
Lakshya Raichandani’s Mother: Lakshmi Raichandani
Lakshya’s mother is Lakshmi Raichandani. She has stayed away from the spotlight, but the family’s sacrifice in letting him move to another state at a young age is often mentioned when his story is told. She was by his side along with his father when Lakshya was honoured by the district administration in Gonda after he was named India U19 vice-captain earlier this year.
Lakshya Raichandani’s Grandfather and Brother
The Raichandani family is well known in Gonda. Lakshya’s paternal grandfather, Tulsidas Raichandani, moved to India soon after the Partition in 1947. He went on to enter politics and was elected twice to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
Lakshya also has an elder brother. Not much is known about him publicly, as the family has kept his life private.
From Gonda to Haldwani: Lakshya Raichandani’s Journey
Lakshya did his early schooling at Raghukul Vidya Peeth in Gonda, where his first coach, Surendra Kumar, taught him the basics of the game. The move to Haldwani is the reason he plays for Uttarakhand and not his home state of Uttar Pradesh.
His breakthrough came in the 2023-24 Vijay Merchant Trophy, the national Under-16 tournament. He scored 833 runs in just seven innings at an average of 138.33, with four centuries, the highest tally of the season. He also picked up 13 wickets with his off-spin. The performance earned him the Jagmohan Dalmiya Award at the BCCI’s annual awards in 2025.
He made his first-class debut for Uttarakhand in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy as a teenager, scoring three half-centuries in four matches. His 55 against Karnataka in the semi-final was the top score for his team in that game.
Lakshya Raichandani’s Best Batting Performances
| Performance | Details |
|---|---|
| 833 runs, Vijay Merchant Trophy 2023-24 | Four centuries in seven innings, average of 138.33 |
| 207 vs Sri Lanka U19, Galle (July 2026) | Double century in a Youth Test, followed by a century in the next match |
| 240 vs Australia U19 (September 2026) | His highest score in Youth Tests |
| Century vs Australia U19 (September 2026) | Scored as captain in the final Youth ODI of the series |
| 93 vs Afghanistan U19 (November 2026) | Off 90 balls in the U19 Asia Cup semi-final |
What stands out is his hunger for big scores. Two double centuries in Youth Tests within three months show a batter who does not throw his wicket away once he is set, a quality that selectors value highly in red-ball cricket.
Lakshya Raichandani as Captain
Lakshya was named India U19 captain for the one-day series against Australia U19 in September 2026. The squad included Aaryavir Sehwag, son of Virender Sehwag, and Anvay Dravid, son of Rahul Dravid, and Lakshya was clear about how he wanted to lead.
“It’s a matter of honour. It’s also a huge responsibility,” he said. “I want to build a positive environment and keep the best interests of the team ahead of my own.”
That approach was tested at the U19 Asia Cup 2026 in Oman. After starting with an unbeaten 53, he had two low scores, and India lost to Pakistan in the group stage. The team did not panic. India bounced back to beat UAE and qualify for the semi-finals, where the captain led from the front.
Chasing 228 against Afghanistan, Lakshya smashed 93 off 90 balls with 13 fours and a six, reaching his fifty in just 39 balls. He added 117 runs for the first wicket with Aaryavir Sehwag, and India won by eight wickets with more than 13 overs to spare.
In the final against Pakistan on November 14, he rotated eight bowlers as Pakistan posted 337 for 9, and then began India’s chase with another half-century at the top of the order.
With runs in every format and the calmness of a natural leader, Lakshya Raichandani has already made his family and his hometown of Gonda proud. The next big goal for him will be the ICC Under-19 World Cup, and beyond that, a place in the senior Indian team.
Also read: Aaryavir Sehwag family: Father, mother, brother and more.