INDIAN CHALLENGE
India will not be short on quality batsmen or fine quick bowlers when they begin their campaign in the ICC Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand. The three-time champions have Prithvi Shaw as the skipper, who is difficult to dislodge once he is well set.
PRITHVI SHAW
Born: November 9, 1999
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm off-break
The India U-19 captain shot to fame in 2013 when he smashed 546 runs off 330 deliveries during a Harris Shield game against St Francis D’ Assidi. His hunger for runs forced the selectors to take him in Mumbai’s Ranji squad last season. Shaw not only slammed a ton on debut vs a strong TN in the semis, he also scored four centuries in his first five first-class matches. In the process, he emulated Tendulkar’s feat of scoring a ton in one’s Duleep Trophy debut. He is now a vital cog in Mumbai line-up.
KAMLESH NAGARKOTI
Born: December 28, 1999 Batting style: Right-hand bat Bowling style: Right-arm medium fast
He is one of the brightest fastbowling prospects and is expected to do well in New Zealand. Nagarkoti has learnt the nuances of bowling reverse swing. He made headlines with his 10-for in an U-19 Test against England in Chesterfield. He caught the selectors’ eye when he debuted for Rajasthan in Vijay Hazare-2017.
SHUBMAN GILL
Born: September 8, 1999 Batting style: Right-hand bat Bowling style: Right-arm off-break
He is one of those promising young batsmen who has slowly climbed the ladder. At 14, he struck 351 in a Punjab inter-district tournament and recently emerged the leading run-getter of the U-19 side that thrashed England U-19 4-0 in the recently concluded one-dayers.
His under-19 ODI average is a staggering 97.12.
ISHAN POREL
Born: September 5, 1998
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm medium
He’s an excellent prospect because of the raw pace, which often touches the 140kmph mark. Porel has already had a first-class debut for Bengal and has taken 13 wickets in three matches, including a five-for in his second game. He has a stock slower bouncer that often catches the batsmen off guard.