The Indian Under-19 cricket team kicks off its final preparations for the upcoming World Cup with a three-match Youth ODI series against South Africa. The first match of this crucial warm-up campaign is set to be played at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Saturday.
A Crucial Series Ahead of the Global Showpiece
This series serves as the final competitive outing for both teams before the 2026 ICC Men's Under-19 ODI World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6. India enters this contest looking to build momentum after finishing as runners-up in the Under-19 Asia Cup, where they lost to Pakistan in the final.
All three matches of this bilateral series will be held at the same venue in Benoni. The second match is scheduled for Monday, with the series finale on Wednesday. Following this tour, the Indian colts will immediately travel to Zimbabwe for their World Cup campaign.
India's Roadmap in the U19 World Cup
The five-time champions have been placed in Group B of the U19 World Cup, alongside New Zealand, the USA, and Bangladesh. India will begin its World Cup quest against the USA at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. This will be followed by a key clash against Bangladesh on January 17 and a final group stage match against New Zealand on January 24.
The tournament format involves 16 teams split into four groups. The top teams will then progress to a Super Six stage, leading to the semi-finals and the final, which will be held in Harare.
Squads and Key Players to Watch
The Indian team will be led by the young and talented Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 14-year-old prodigy who has already made headlines. The squad features a mix of promising batters and bowlers aiming to make their mark on the international stage.
India U19 Squad: Vaibhav Suryavanshi (c), Aaron George, Harvansh Pangalia, Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (w), Kanishk Chouhan, RS Ambrish, Khilan Patel, Henil Patel, Deepesh Devendran, Kishan Kumar Singh, Mohamed Enaan, Rahul Kumar, Udhav Mohan, Yuvraj Gohil.
South Africa U19 Squad: Jorich Van Schalkwyk, Adnaan Lagadien, Muhammed Bulbulia (w/c), Jason Rowles, Armaan Manack, Paul James, Daniel Bosman, Bandile Mbatha, Ntando Soni, JJ Basson, Bayanda Majola, Corne Botha, Michael Kruiskamp, Lethabo Phahlamohlaka, Enathi Kitshini.
This series is more than just a bilateral contest; it is a vital testing ground for strategies, combinations, and player temperament ahead of the sport's most prestigious junior tournament. All eyes will be on captain Suryavanshi and his team as they look to fine-tune their game and build confidence for the challenges that lie ahead in Zimbabwe and Namibia.
