Date and Time: January 15, 9:30 AM Local time, 1:30 PM IST
Venue: Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
As soon as the Indian players came out of the airport, they were welcomed by a traditional dance with music in the background. Soon, one of the members of the team joined the dance crew. It was all good fun. No players joined in, but their cameras were out, capturing the moments. Maybe they were saving some energy or creating memories. Good on them. From the day they arrived, the days have been occupied with work. Nets, drills, matches, repeat. This is a side that carries history in its kit bags. Five titles, more than anyone else, and five finals in a row, even if only two ended with the trophy raised. Legacy, however, offers no free passes.
Fresh off a dominant series win over South Africa, the Indian Under-19 boys landed in Zimbabwe with momentum but no time to admire it. Complacency is the one opponent they refuse to face. They played two warm up games, both of which were rain affected. One resulted in a win and the other in a loss. That loss in the second warm up game will not be concerning, as the DLS method made it easier for the chasing England team. The Boys in Blue seem to have adapted to the conditions well.
Bulawayo has not been generous with clear days. Showers have hovered like uninvited guests, and forecasts promise more of the same. Even the opening game, India against the USA, waits under uncertain skies. Still, between the showers, the team worked quietly, methodically, squeezing purpose out of every available session.
The test ahead is not only the weather. Queens Sports Club is an unfamiliar ground and will host all of India’s group games. Two fielding sessions there, and nothing more. No time with bat or ball. Add to that an opponent they have not faced since the last World Cup, and the unknowns multiply. Keeping all this aside, what the Colts in Blue have focused on is their preparation.
Captain Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi have obviously become household names, courtesy of their exploits in the IPL. There is no denying that more eyeballs will be on these two players. However, there is more to this Indian team than just them. Kanishk Chouhan, Deepesh Devendran, Abhigyan Kundu, Khilan Patel, Vihaan Malhotra, Aaron George, Kishan Kumar Singh and Udhav Mohan are the other players to watch out for in the tournament.
With so much quality in the squad, there is going to be a headache when it comes to picking the XI. The openers are sorted, with Mhatre and Sooryavanshi. The toss up will be between Vedant Trivedi and Aaron George for the number three position. Vihaan, Kundu and RS Ambrish will form the middle order, with Kanishk and Khilan to follow.
The nature of the pitch will determine whether India pick Mohamed Enaan, the leg spin bowling all rounder, or play an extra seamer. Deepesh is the team’s first choice seamer. If India play Enaan, the battle will be between Kishan, Udhav and Henil Patel for the final spot.
Much like their senior team, the USA Under-19 side has many players of Indian origin. The ones to keep an eye on will be the openers Amrinder Gill and Sahil Garg. Captain Utkarsh Srivastava, Ritvik Appidi and Adit Kappa are the others to look forward to.
All is set for the first game. India will be looking to start the tournament with a win. For the USA, however, there is an opportunity to hand an early setback to the most successful team in the tournament’s history.
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