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The India U-19 cricket team will start their ICC U-19 World Cup journey tomorrow (January 15) against South Africa at the Providence Stadium, in Guyana.
The India U-19 team is the most successful teams in the history of this event as they had previously lifted the trophy four times in 2000, 2008, 2012 and 2018. The Indian team also finished as runners-ups thrice in 2006, 2016 and 2020 editions.
Skipper Yash Dhull
Last year’s runners-ups under the leadership of Yash Dhull will be high on confidence after they managed to secure victories in both their warm-up games. In the first warm-up match against West Indies, India secured a convincing 108-run victory. Against Australia, in the second warm-up match, they claimed a comfortable win by nine wickets.
Dhull scored a terrific half-century against West Indies. In the bowling department, Kaushal Tambe and Manav Parakh had taken three wickets each in the game.
Focus on Harnoor Singh
In the second warm-up match, India’s left-arm medium pacer Ravi Kumar scalped four Aussie wickets and helped his side in restricting the opponents for 268. In reply, opening batsman Harnoor Singh scored a brilliant century (100 off 108 balls) and his teammate Shaik Rasheed scored 72 off 74 balls to help India get home with nine wickets in hand.
In the batting unit a lot will depend on Harnoor and skipper Dhull. The bowling lineup, on the hand, is expected to be led by medium pacer Ravi Kumar.
Apart from the opponent teams, another factor that will bother the players this time around will be the bio-bubbles. India U-19 coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar accepted that it is a challenge but he wants the players to get used to it.
“Yes, it is a challenge. What we need to realise is that this is the norm now. It is better to get used to it. It is the reality now, staying in the bubble. The boys will be able to learn from this. After this World Cup also, when they need to stay in bubbles, they will be up for it,” coach Kanitkar told during a virtual press conference on January 13.
