India’s under-19 stars gear up to take the IPL plunge

MOHALI: The family of left-arm spinner, Abhishek Sharma, member of the victorious U-19 World Cup in New Zealand, will travel to Mohali from Amritsar to watch Kings XI Punjab take on Delhi Daredevils in the IPL on Sunday. However, they will be rooting for Delhi as Abhishek and his U-19 teammates Prithvi Shaw and Manjot Kalra will turn out for the Gautam Gambhir-led team.

Four other U-19 World Cup team members are in IPL. While fast bowlers Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti, and the Player-of-the-Tournament, Shubman Gill, will wear Kolkata Knight Riders colours, spinner Anukul Roy will play for Mumbai Indians.

“IPL is huge. We have been watching it on television for the past decade. We will feel proud to see Abhishek compete in the tournament with top international cricketers and share the dressing room with established names,” Abhishek’s father, Raj Kumar Sharma, in Mohali with daughters Saaniya and Komal, said.

“There is no doubt the U-19 bunch that won the World Cup

was oozing with talent. It is wonderful to see them join the big lads in IPL and get into T20 mode. However, we should not forget they were in safe hands of (coach) Rahul Dravid, who kept them grounded. It is very important they don’t get swayed by the incentives IPL provide. Unnecessary media attention and glamour can take away all the focus,” said former India wicketkeeper, Ajay Ratra, a member of the victorious 2000 U-19 squad.

The base price of all seven junior stars was Rs 20 lakh. Left-arm quickie Kamlesh Nagarkoti emerged the costliest and Shivam Mavi second most expensive (KKR bought them for Rs 3.2 crore and Rs 3 crore respectively).

“These teenagers should realise IPL is not their final destination and doing well for their states in domestic cricket only can land them a berth in the Indian team. I met national selector Sarandeep Singh the other day; he is clear players doing well in IPL can only be given a break into the Indian T20 team. If they remain focused for the next two years, they will definitely shine and be in Indian colours,” added Ratra.

Punjab’s Shubman Gill (bought for Rs 1.8 crore), the batting start of that junior campaign, will also play for KKR. “I have seen him from close quarters, the way he played in his debut Ranji season was enough to tell about his abilities,” added Ratra.

Former India batsman, Praveen Amre, Delhi Daredevils Head of Talent Hunt, said his team had always backed youth.