The Under-19 World Cup Is About To Get Underway And Here Are The Boys In Blue You Need To Watch Out For

Virat Kohli. Yuvraj Singh. Virender Sehwag. Irfan Pathan. Shikhar Dhawan. Suresh Raina. Rohit Sharma. What is common between them? Well, these are just a few international stars who first came to notice in the U-19 World Cup. The age-group tournament has been a breeding ground for new players to make their mark and knock on the doors of the senior side.

The U-19 World Cup gives the young players a perfect platform to not only showcase their potential, but also show the character to hold their own with the world watching.

This year again, players will have the chance to perform to their abilities and pass the first big litmus test of their careers. They current Indian u-19 side in particular, will be looking to follow the lead of their legendary predecessors who not only did well at the tournament, but have/are now established stars of the senior side.

The tournament starts on January 17, and the men in blue will be defending the crown. There will be plenty of talent on show, and it is going to be cracker of a contest between bat and ball.

For India to defend their title, every individual will have to step up, but a few will have more burden to share.

Let¡¯s have a look at the Indian players to watch out for.

Priyam Garg, Captain/Batsman

Priyam Garg will lead India¡¯s quest to defend the Under-19 World Cup after being named captain for the tournament. His shoulders will have to take the same responsibility that was once carried by the likes of Virat Kohli (2008), Mohammad Kaif (2000), Prithvi Shaw (2018), all of whom went on to play for the senior national team.

A talented batsman known to possess tremendous ability to hold his own and array of shots, he will have to lead from the front. In December 2018, during the match against Tripura, he scored his maiden double century in first-class cricket. The innings gave a glimpse of the talents of the boy from Uttar Pradesh. Now, he has his opportunity to show what he is made of, at a tournament that always shapes careers. He will be looked at very closely.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Batsman

He is arguably going to be one of the top watches at the tournament. A dashing left-handed opener who can dismantle bowlers, Yashasvi Jaiswal is already a name synonymous with India's domestic circuit.

A lot will also hinge on Yashasvi, who has been making waves at a very young age. The highlight of the prodigious opener's scintillating performance off late was a 203-run knock off 154 balls, scored for Mumbai in Vijay Hazare Trophy, contained as many as 12 sixes and 17 fours. He thus became the youngest batsman to hit a double hundred in List A cricket.

A nonchalant marauder of the ball, the Mumbai batsman will be an exciting prospect to watch.

Dhruv Jurel, Wicket-Keeper Batsman

Dhruv Jurel, the young wicket keeper batsman from Uttar Pradesh, will be the second in command to Priyam Garg when India will defend the trophy. The young talented prodigy led the runners-up India U-19 A team in a quadrangular series held in India in March last year Dhruv also led the India U-19 team in the Youth Asia Cup last year in September.

He scored 736 in 11 matches in the Cooch Behar Trophy U-19 at an average of 61.33 with a highest score of 152, including three centuries.

Atharva Ankolekar, Bowler

Atharva Ankolekar, son of a bus conductor, has also been selected in the India U-19 squad for the World Cup in 2020.

His story is richly inspiring. Atharva was single-handedly raised by his mother, Vaidehi, after his father, Vinod died in 2010. His father was a bus conductor with BEST in Mumbai.

The 18-year-old left arm spinner helped the India U-19 team clinch the Asia Cup title with his five wicket haul against Bangladesh in the final. India scored a very low total of 106, but it was Atharva¡¯s 5 for 28 that helped India to seal a five-run victory. His performance with the ball will be key to India's chances of winning the title.

Kartik Tyagi, Bowler

Kartik Tyagi, a young pacer from Uttar Pradesh, will be taking the responsibility of the new ball. A skiddy customer, he has the ability to hurry up the batsman, something that will come in handy on tracks in South Africa.

The 19 year-old's journey has been of real struggle, but his determination has made him come through. Kartik, who belongs from a poor farming family, has faced a lot of hardships to get selected in the junior side. His father has been a pillar of support for him in his cricketing journey.

Kartik made his List A debut against Delhi on 5 February 2018. He took 2 wickets in that match at an economy of 5.55. The UP lad has taken 9 wickets in 5 matches at an economy of 5.55 with an average of 29.00. Watch out for him.