India wants to beat Bangladesh in their first World Cup match
In their tournament opener in Bloemfontein on Saturday, India, the reigning champions and most successful side in Under-19 World Cup history, will take against Bangladesh, a new squad under the leadership of Uday Saharan, with the aim of adding another trophy to their collection.
Aligned in Group A, the five-time champions will kick off their campaign at the Manguang Oval against their Asian opponents before moving on to play Ireland and the USA in their remaining group matches. Indian teams have won the U-19 World Cup in 2008, 2012, 2018, and 2022 after taking home their first championship with Mohammad Kaif in 2002.
Four groups of as many teams each will compete in the tournament, which the ICC abruptly shifted from Sri Lanka to South Africa.
The top three teams from each group advance to the Super Sixes, whereupon the semifinals take place on February 6 and 8, and the final is scheduled for February 11 in Benoni.
India will believe they have enough weapons to go the distance thanks to their all-around player from Maharashtra Arshin Kulkarni, wicketkeeper-batter Aravelly Avanish, left-arm spinner Saumy Kumar Pandey, vice captain Saharan, and other exceptional talent.
Two of these players, Avinash (Chennai Super Kings) and Kulkarni (Lucknow Supergiants), have already signed IPL contracts and will be eager to establish themselves on the largest platform before moving on to play in the top division of cricket.
Rajasthani-born Saharan, who has led Punjab in all age categories, has hit more than fifty in each of his previous three innings, including a century against South Africa.
The right-handed batsman who moved from Rajasthan to Punjab in November amassed 297 runs at 99 with four fifties in only four U-19 Challenger Trophy games.
Musheer Khan, a potential player on this Indian team who amassed 268 runs at 89.33 with a century and two fifties in the home tournament, was not far behind him.
Before the Indian squad traveled to South Africa, bowlers Aaradhya Shukla, Pandey, and Kulkarni were among the top wicket-takers in the U-19 Challenger Trophy.
India’s form also works in their advantage; they have won all four of their U-19 tri-nation series matches in South Africa. The match versus the hosts ended in a washout.
However, after losing the U-19 Asia Cup quarterfinal to Bangladesh in a mostly one-sided match in December, India will also be careful not to get too comfortable against them. In the team’s last warm-up match, Australia was beaten.
Squads: Aravelly Avanish Rao (wk), Saumy Kumar Pandey (vc), Murugan Abhishek, Innesh Mahajan (wk), Dhanush Gowda, Aaradhya Shukla, Raj Limbani, and Naman Tiwari are the Indian squad members: Arshin Kulkarni, Adarsh Singh, Rudra Mayur Patel, Sachin Dhas, Priyanshu Moliya, Musheer Khan, Uday Saharan (C).
Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby (C), Ashiqur Rahman Shibli (wk), Jishan Alam, Ariful Islam, Mohammad Shihab James, Ahrar Amin (vc), Shiekh Parvez Jibon, Wasi Siddiquee, Maruf Mridha, Chowdhury Md Rizwan, Adil Bin Siddik, Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman, Md Rafi Uzzaman Rafi, Rohanat Doullah Borson, and Iqbal Hossain Emon are the names of Bangladesh.
