The ACC Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup is set to commence on December 8, and India, the tournament’s defending champions, have announced their squad captained by the talented Uday Saharan. The young cricketer hails from the northern state of Punjab and is viewed as one of the most promising talents on India’s cricket horizon. At only nineteen years of age, Saharan has caught the attention of selectors, not least due to his inclusion as a backup during the Covid-affected Indian squad in last year’s Under-19 World Cup held in Antigua.
Assuming the role of vice-captain for this prestigious youth tournament is Saumy Kumar Pandey, another player whose skills have made him a notable prospect for the future of Indian cricket. Together, Saharan and Pandey will lead a 15 member squad brimming with young talent poised to defend India’s stature as the most successful team in the history of the U19 Asia Cup—with an impressive record of eight titles to their name.
The team will start the tournament with a game against Afghanistan on December 8, taking place at the ICC Academy Oval-1 in UAE. As part of a group that offers no easy passes, India will also face arch-rivals Pakistan on December 10, which is expected to attract keen interest from cricket fans around the globe. Concluding the group stage, India will play against Nepal on December 12. The culmination of these matches will direct the teams towards the final showdown, scheduled to occur on December 17 at the iconic Dubai International Stadium.
The squad announced for this venture includes: Uday Saharan (Captain) and Saumy Kumar Pandey (vice-captain), alongside promising cricketers like Arshin Kulkarni, Adarsh Singh, Rudra Mayur Patel, Sachin Dhas, Priyanshu Moliya, Musheer Khan, Dhanush Gowda, wicketkeeper Avinash Rao, M Abhishek, Innesh Mahajan (also a wicketkeeper), Aardhya Shukla, Raj Limbani, and Naman Tiwari.
Moreover, the team management has included a set of traveling reserves, keeping in mind the unpredictable nature of health and fitness in competitive sports. These include Prem Devkar, Ansh Gosai, and Mohammad Aman. Additionally, a few contingents of non-travelling reserves have been named, providing additional cover and support. This list features Digvijay Patil, Jayant Goyat, P Vignesh, and Kiran Chormale, who will be ready to step in should the necessity arise.
As anticipation builds and preparations get underway, fans can stay tuned to timeless musical tracks on JioSaavn.com, perhaps including some inspirational anthems to support the India U19 cricket team. For those who follow cricket ardently, this edition of the ACC Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup offers a glimpse into the future of Indian cricket, and indeed the emerging talents in the Asian region.
For more sports updates and the latest on the World Cup 2023, enthusiasts can like relevant pages on Facebook or follow pertinent accounts on Twitter. Dedicated applications such as the NDTV Cricket app, available for both Android and iOS users, provide an easy-to-navigate platform for all cricket-related information and live updates. Fans can download the app to ensure they don’t miss any twists and turns of the tournament and to cheer on the young men in blue as they pursue glory.