Hrishikesh Kanitkar, head coach of India’s U-19 cricket team, exudes confidence in the potential of the 2024 batch, foreseeing that at least a couple of players will rise to represent the senior squad. Despite India’s loss to Australia in the U-19 World Cup final by 79 runs, standout performances from players like captain Uday Saharan, Musheer Khan, Saumy Pandey, and Sachin Dhas captured attention throughout the tournament.
The future of Indian cricket looks very promising,
Kanitkar expressed during the post-match press conference on Sunday.
Both in bowling and batting departments, several players have demonstrated maturity in challenging situations, which is a positive sign for Indian cricket.
India has a rich history of nurturing talent through age-group cricket, with stars like Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh and Rohit Sharma emerging from U-19 ranks to shine on the international stage. Kanitkar believes this trend will continue, citing fierce competition within the domestic circuit as a catalyst for growth.
Every cycle, there are a few individuals who step up, whether in the IPL or the national team,
Kanitkar remarked.
I’m confident we’ll see a couple of talents emerge, although the competition domestically is intense.
Notably, squad members Arshin Kulkarni and Avanish Rao entered the U-19 World Cup with IPL contracts already secured, highlighting the pathway for young cricketers to progress to higher levels of the game.
Kanitkar emphasizes the significance of the U-19 World Cup experience, providing invaluable exposure to the pressures and demands of senior-level cricket.
These performances are scrutinized, and players become accustomed to the spotlight, which prepares them for the challenges of higher levels,
the 49-year-old coach remarked, underlining the developmental journey of aspiring cricketers.