India retain Asia Cup squad as Uday Saharan set to lead in U-19 World Cup

The BCCI on Tuesday announced the India U19 team which will take part in the U-19 World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in South Africa in 2024. Punjab boy Uday Saharan will lead the team in the marquee tournament, which the Boys in Blue have dominated since its inception.

Mumbai (Maharashtra): Uday Saharan will be leading India in the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa next year, as the same side from the ongoing U-19 Asia Cup has been retained for the global showpiece beginning on January 19.

The 19-year-old Punjab lad would also be leading the side during a tri-series in South Africa, also involving England, from December 29, with Saumy Kumar Pandey being his deputy.

The BCCI has also picked Prem Devkar, Ansh Gosai and Mohammad Amaan on standby for the tri-series.

"Post the tri-series, the India U-19 team will begin preparations for the much-anticipated U-19 World Cup," said BCCI in a statement.

• 🚨 NEWS 🚨: India U19 squad for tri-series in South Africa & ICC Men’s U19 World Cup announced. #U19WorldCup
  
  More Details 👇https://t.co/Xf893sue1S

  — BCCI (@BCCI) December 12, 2023 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  🚨 NEWS 🚨: India U19 squad for tri-series in South Africa & ICC Men’s U19 World Cup announced. #U19WorldCup
  
  More Details 👇https://t.co/Xf893sue1S

  — BCCI (@BCCI) December 12, 2023

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  🚨 NEWS 🚨: India U19 squad for tri-series in South Africa & ICC Men’s U19 World Cup announced. #U19WorldCup
  
  More Details 👇https://t.co/Xf893sue1S

  — BCCI (@BCCI) December 12, 2023

The five-time defending champions begin their campaign against Bangladesh in group A on January 20 in Bloemfontein. Ireland and the USA are the other two teams in the group A.

India are also the defending champions as they won the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2022 held in West Indies. India U19 defeated England U19 in the final held at North Sound by 14 runs to emerge triumphant. India U19 was led by Yash Dhull.

India squad for tri-series and U19 World Cup: Uday Saharan (captain), Saumy Kumar Pandey (vice captain), Arshin Kulkarni, Adarsh Singh, Rudra Mayur Patel, Sachin Dhas, Priyanshu Moliya, Musheer Khan, Murugan Abhishek, Aravelly Avanish Rao (wicket-keeper), Innesh Mahajan (wk), Dhanush Gowda, Aaradhya Shukla, Raj Limbani and Naman Tiwari.

Stand-by: Prem Devkar, Ansh Gosai and Mohammad Amaan. (With inputs from PTI)