ICC Under-19 World Cup 2024: The Five India Players to Watch Out for in South Africa
ICC Under-19 World Cup 2024: The Five India Players to Watch Out for in South Africa
Ahead of the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2024, here's a look at five India players who could set the tournament alight.

We are just a couple of days away from the start of another ICC U-19 World Cup which has served as a stepping stone for the future superstars. The story continues with players from across the globe aiming to prove they can shine on the biggest stage.

The biennial tournament this time was originally to be held in Sri Lanka but an ICC suspension after government meddling meant the event was shifted to South Africa. A total of 16 teams are taking part in the event with defending champions India, also the most successful team in the tournament history, starting as the favourites.

The team will be led by Uday Sharan who will have Arshin Kulkarni, Raj Limbani, Saumy Pandey, and Musheer Khan among others to lean on as he hopes to join the elite list of his predecessors to have lifted the junior World Cup trophy as captain.

Here’s a look at the five Indian players to watch out for at the 2024 ICC U-19 World Cup

Uday Saharan:

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Middle-order batter Uday Saharan, who hails from Punjab, is leading India’s title defence in South Africa. Saharan was the top run-getter of the Men’s U-19 Challengers Trophy 2023, a one-day tournament. Captaining the India D squad, he scored 297 runs from four games at an average of 99 including four half-centuries. He also led India’s U-19 teams at the Asia Cup and a tri-nation tournament where he scored a century against South Africa during a league match.

Saumy Pandey

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Saumy Pandey is a left-arm spinner who is also India’s vice-captain for the tournament. Preterm birth meant Pandey struggled with health issues as a kid and his parents turned to cricket after suggestions to get their son involved in physical activities. At the U-19 Challengers Trophy last year, he finished with seven wickets for India-A – the joint-second most of the competition. He was India’s highest-wicket taker of the South Africa tri-nation with nine scalps which was the third most of the competition. During the tourney, he took a six-fer against Afghanistan including a hat-trick.

Arshin Kulkarni

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Arshin Kulkarni represents Maharashtra in domestic cricket and is an allrounder who bats in the top order and is a medium-pacer. Kulkarni started as a legspinner but switched to pace bowling to make the most out of his physique. He played in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last season and helped his team win the Vinoo Mankad Trophy then. He was the fourth-highest wicket-taker of the U-19 Challengers Trophy (six wickets). At the U-19 Asia Cup, he was the leading run-getter of his side with 138 runs from four innings including a best of 70 not out. He scored 111 runs in two innings at the South Africa U-19 tri-series including 91 against the hosts. At the Maharashtra Premier League last year, he made everyone sit up and take notice with a century (117 runs) and four wickets for Eagle Nashik in a match.

Raj Limbani

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Right-arm pacer Raj Limbani made an impression with a stunning seven-wicket haul against Nepal at the U-19 Asia Cup, helping India enter the semi-finals. Limbani was the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 12 scalps from four matches at 12.50 and an economy of 3.82. He took four wickets at the U19 Challengers Trophy and has represented Barodo in various tournaments at the junior level.

Musheer Khan

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Musheer Khan is a talented allrounder who bats in the top order and bowls left-arm spin. He was the captain of the India-B side that won the U-19 one-day challengers trophy and scored a match-winning hundred in the title clash. He was the tournament’s third-highest run-getter (268 from three innings) and took five wickets as well. At the U-19 Asia Cup, he scored 100 runs in four games including a best of 50 and took a wicket as well. He is the younger brother of Sarfaraz Khan who played for India in two U-19 World Cups (2014, 2016)

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