Cricket

India's Mohammad Amaan to Lead U19 Team in ACC Asia CupUttar Pradesh's Mohammad Amaan has been appointed as the captain of India's U19 team for the upcoming 50-over ACC Under-19 Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from November 30 to December 8.India will kick off their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at Dubai International Stadium on November 30. The team boasts a talented roster of young players who have showcased their abilities in domestic competitions.Among the notable names in the squad are Mumbai's Ayush Mhatre, Bihar's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Tamil Nadu's C Andre Siddarth, Kerala leg-spinner Mohammed Enaan, Karnataka batter Hardik Raj, and his state-mate Samarth Nagaraj.Group A of the tournament also includes Japan and the hosts UAE, while Group B features Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal. India will face Bangladesh in a practice match on November 26 in Sharjah before the tournament begins.The semifinals of the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup are scheduled for December 6, with the final set to take place on December 8. India will be aiming to defend their title, having won the previous edition in 2019.India U19 Squad:* Ayush Mhatre* Vaibhav Sooryavanshi* C Andre Siddarth* Mohammad Amaan (C)* Kiran Chormale (VC)* Pranav Pant* Harvansh Singh Pangalia (WK)* Anurag Kawde (WK)* Hardik Raj* Mohammad Enaan* KP Karthikeya* Samarth Nagaraj* Yudhajit Guha* Chetan Sharma* Nikhil KumarNon-travelling Reserves:* Sahil Parakh* Naman Pushpak* Anmoljeet Singh* Pranav Raghavendra* D Dipesh

In a thrilling encounter that showcased the resilience and skill of both teams, the India U-19 cricket team emerged victorious over their Australian counterparts in the second Youth 'Test' at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.Resuming the third day at 142 for three, Australia's Oliver Peake played aggressively, smashing boundaries and driving and cutting with precision. He reached a well-deserved century, leading Australia's fightback. However, India's off-spinner Anmoljeet provided the breakthrough, dismissing Alex Lee Young and Christian Howe.After lunch, Peake was caught by Nikhil at covers, while Samarth peppered Aidan O'Connor with short deliveries before having him caught at slip. Anmoljeet continued his impressive spell, dismissing Ollie Patterson and Lachlan Ranaldo. Mohamed Enaan and Vishwa Ramkumar also contributed to Australia's downfall, bowling out the visitors for 277 in their first innings.With a significant lead, India enforced the follow-on. Enaan and Anmoljeet quickly dismissed Riley Kingsell, Simon Budge, and Peake, leaving Australia in trouble at 41 for three. Between overs 11 to 24, Australia's batting collapsed. Alex gifted his wicket to a brilliant direct hit, while Anmoljeet dismissed Howe and Enaan had Aidan stumped. Patterson and Hogan also fell cheaply, as Anmoljeet rattled their stumps. Chetan got Vishwa bowled, and Anmoljeet picked up Ranaldo for his fifth victim, sealing India's emphatic victory.

Harvansh Singh's scintillating century propelled India U-19 to a commanding position against Australia U-19 on day two of the second Youth 'Test' at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.Singh's masterful knock of 117 (143b, 7x4, 6x6) anchored India's innings, which ended on a formidable 492. The right-hander displayed an array of strokes, showcasing his power-hitting prowess with six towering sixes over the leg-side. His elegant drives and punches, both off the front and back foot, helped him reach his century and push India's total beyond the 450-run mark.Australia's bowlers had a tough start to the day, with fast bowler Oliver Patterson dismissing India's skipper Soham Patwardhan (63) early on. However, Mohamed Enaan and Singh forged a resilient partnership of 54 runs for the seventh wicket. Enaan's dismissal brought N. Samarth to the crease, who played aggressively, hitting two consecutive sixes off Lachlan Ranaldo. However, the off-spinner soon dismissed both Samarth and Chetan Sharma in the same over.With India's innings nearing its end, Singh took over, dominating both the fast bowlers and spinners. He showcased his power-hitting by smashing six sixes on the leg-side between the long-on and deep-mid wicket region. His elegant punches and drives, both off the front and back foot, helped him reach his century and pushed India to post 492. He also had a crucial 90-run partnership for the last wicket alongside Anmoljeet.Australia's innings got off to a shaky start as leg-spinner Enaan dismissed openers Riley Kingsell and Steven Hogan, while off-spinner Anmoljeet sent back Simon Budge, leaving the visitors at 42 for three. However, skipper Oliver Peake (62 batting) and Alex Lee Young (45 batting) revived the innings with an unbroken 100-run fourth-wicket stand, ending the day at 142 for three.With the pitch showing signs of uneven bounce and the visiting team trailing by 350 runs, an intriguing day three is in store.

Nitya Pandya's impressive knock of 94 runs on day one against Australia U-19 played a pivotal role in steering India U-19 to a commanding position. Despite falling six runs short of a well-deserved century, Pandya's innings was crucial in building a solid foundation for the team."We lost an early wicket, so the focus was on building a partnership," said Pandya after the day's play. "We (K.P. Karthikeya and I) were not always eager to go for boundaries; we wanted to keep rotating the strike. If the strike rotation is good, the opposition will automatically feel low."Pandya's journey to the India U-19 team has been a testament to his determination and hard work. Hailing from a village in Rajasthan, he began his cricketing journey there. However, the lack of adequate facilities and coaching opportunities prompted him to move to Vadodara."So, then my father and I decided to move to Vadodara," Pandya recalled. "Then, the Pandya brothers became famous, so we took inspiration from that and shifted. My mother, sister, and I shifted, while my father would travel back and forth.""When I shifted to Vadodara, it was my dream to play for the U-19 World Cup," Pandya continued. "Unfortunately, I wasn't selected. But I kept working hard and I landed this tour. I'm grateful."Pandya's innings was characterized by patience and maturity. He played with a calm head, rotating the strike and punishing loose deliveries. His partnership with Karthikeya, who scored 52, provided India U-19 with a solid platform to build upon.As India U-19 looks to consolidate their position on day two, Pandya's contribution will be crucial. His experience and leadership will be invaluable as the team aims to secure a victory against Australia U-19.

India's Under-19 cricket team displayed resilience and determination to secure a thrilling two-wicket victory over their Australian counterparts in the first Youth Test match at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.Chasing a challenging target of 212 on a turning pitch, India faced early setbacks as off-spinner Thomas Brown dismissed Vaibhav Suryavanshi and pacer Addison Sheriff removed Vihaan Malhotra, leaving the hosts struggling at 25 for two.However, Nitya Pandya (51) and K.P. Karthikeya (35) steadied the innings with a 71-run partnership for the third wicket. Karthikeya's dismissal to leg-spinner Vishwa Ramkumar brought about a collapse, with Nitya and skipper Soham Patwardhan falling in quick succession.With India reeling at 113 for five, Abhigyan Kundu and Nikhil Kumar (55 not out) forged a crucial 49-run stand for the sixth wicket. Aidan O'Connor dismissed Kundu, but Kumar and Enaan (12) kept the scoreboard ticking.Vishwa Ramkumar's dismissal of Enaan left India on the brink of defeat, but Kumar and N. Samarth (43) combined for a match-winning 43-run eighth-wicket partnership. Kumar remained unbeaten on 55, guiding India to victory with just 61.1 overs played.Earlier, Soham Patwardhan's three wickets had helped India restrict Australia to 214 in their second innings. Mohamed Enaan's six-wicket haul in the first innings had given India a slender 24-run lead.

On a sweltering day at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, India's U-19 cricket team asserted their dominance in the first Youth Test against Australia U-19. Opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi (81 batting) mesmerized the crowd with his exquisite strokeplay, guiding India to a commanding 103 for no loss at the end of day one.Australia's bowlers had earlier toiled hard, but India's batsmen proved too resilient. Leg-spinner Mohamed Enaan (3/48) led the charge, dismissing Steve Hogan and Simon Budge, while pacers N. Samarth (3/49) and Aditya Rawat (2/50) chipped in with crucial wickets.Riley Kingsell (53) and Oliver Peake (29) provided some resistance for Australia, but India's bowlers maintained a tight grip on the proceedings. Christian Howe (48) and Aidan O'Connor (61) briefly threatened to revive the visitors' innings with a 98-run seventh-wicket stand, but Aditya's timely dismissals ended their hopes.With only a couple of batters remaining, Samarth cleaned up the tail as Vaibhav took over and asserted his authority in India's reply. The right-hander showcased his full repertoire of shots, dispatching boundaries with ease and punishing loose deliveries with disdain.Suryavanshi's innings was a masterclass in batting, as he played with confidence and composure. He found the gaps with precision, drove through the covers with elegance, and pulled with power. His unbeaten knock has put India in a commanding position heading into day two.

Samit Dravid, the son of former India captain Rahul Dravid, will likely miss the upcoming four-day matches against Australia Under-19s in Chennai due to a knee injury. The all-rounder had been sidelined from the three-match one-day series in Puducherry and is still recovering at the National Cricket Academy (NCA)."As of now, he's at the NCA, recovering from his knee injury," said India Under-19s coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar. "So, [I] don't know yet. It looks unlikely."Samit, who turned 18 in October, will not be eligible for the next Under-19 World Cup in 2026 due to age restrictions. According to ICC regulations, players must be under 19 as of August 31, 2025, to participate.Despite missing out on the World Cup, Samit's development remains a priority for the NCA. "We are prioritizing giving the players exposure to grow over merely selecting a talent pool for the 2026 T20 World Cup," said VVS Laxman, the former India batter and NCA head.Kanitkar is eager to test his players in red-ball cricket, as the first youth Test against Australia Under-19s will be India's first four-dayer in over five years. "Red-ball [cricket] really tests you," said Kanitkar. "There's enough time for the bowlers to plan and [make] strategies. So, for both batters and bowlers and even fielders, it's the ideal challenge to see where you stand."India Under-19s enter the four-dayers with confidence after a 3-0 sweep in the one-dayers in Puducherry. However, Kanitkar is wary of the conditions at Chepauk, which has experienced rain and high humidity. "The pitch is obviously different and we will have a look again tomorrow morning," said Kanitkar. "Let's see if it rains overnight or not because it's hot and humid."

India's Under-19 cricket team capped off a dominant 3-0 series sweep against Australia with a thrilling seven-run victory in the third and final Youth ODI on Thursday.Batting first, India posted a formidable total of 324 for 8, thanks to half-centuries from opener Rudra Patel (77 off 81) and skipper Mohamed Amaan (71 off 72). Hardik Raj (30 off 18) and Chetan Sharma (18 not out off 9) provided valuable contributions in the lower order.Australia's chase got off to a strong start, with skipper Oliver Peake (111) and Steven Hogan (104) putting on a 180-run partnership for the third wicket. However, India's bowlers fought back in the death overs, with Hardik (3/55) and Kiran Chormale (2/59) removing the set batters and Alex Lee Young in quick succession.Aidan O'Connor (35 off 20) tried to revive Australia's hopes, but Bengal fast bowler Yudhajit Guha (2/40) held his nerve in the final over to secure the victory for India.The Indian team's success was built on their consistent batting performances throughout the series. Patel and Amaan led the way with their half-centuries, while Raj and Sharma provided crucial support in the lower order.Australia's batting also impressed, with Peake and Hogan scoring centuries in the third ODI. However, their inability to finish the chase in the final overs proved costly.India's bowlers also played a key role in the series sweep. Hardik and Chormale were particularly effective in the death overs, while Guha's performance in the final over was crucial.The victory marks a significant achievement for India's Under-19 team, who have now won three consecutive Youth ODI series against Australia. It also bodes well for the future of Indian cricket, as these young players continue to develop and gain experience at the international level.

India's Under-19 cricket team continued their dominance in the three-match youth ODI series against Australia, securing an unassailable 2-0 lead with a comprehensive nine-wicket victory in the second match.Opener Sahil Parakh played a pivotal role in India's triumph, smashing an aggressive unbeaten century (109 not out off 75 balls) to guide his team to the target of 177 in just 22 overs. Parakh's innings was studded with 14 boundaries and 5 sixes, showcasing his exceptional power-hitting abilities.The Indian bowlers had earlier restricted Australia to a modest total of 176 all out in 49.3 overs. Karnataka medium pacer Samarth Nagaraj (2/34), Kerala leg-spinner Mohammed Enaan (2/30), and off-spinner Kiran Chormale (2/29) shared six wickets among them to stifle the Australian batting lineup.Several Australian batters made starts but failed to convert them into substantial scores. Addison Sheriff (39 off 61 balls) was the top-scorer for the visitors, but his efforts were not enough to prevent India from taking a commanding lead in the series.Abhigyan Kundu (53 not out off 50 balls) provided valuable support to Parakh, stitching together a match-winning partnership of 153 runs. Kundu's innings featured nine boundaries, demonstrating his ability to rotate the strike and keep the scoreboard ticking.With the series already in their grasp, India will be looking to complete a clean sweep in the inconsequential third match on Thursday. The teams will then travel to Chennai for two unofficial 'Tests' starting from September 30.