In a significant development for Indian cricket, Samit Dravid, who recently received his first call-up to represent India in the multi-format home series against Australia, will not be eligible to participate in the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026. The young cricketer, who is making waves in domestic circuits, is the elder son of former Indian captain Rahul Dravid. Despite his promising cricketing skills, Samit will not don the Indian jersey in the upcoming U19 World Cup because of age restrictions.
Samit Dravid is currently 18 years and 297 days old, and by the time the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announces the squad for the 2026 U19 World Cup, he will be 21 years old. The ICC U19 World Cup has strict age criteria which disqualify players older than 19 years during the tournament year. This puts a full stop to any aspirations Samit might have had to participate in one of the most prestigious tournaments for budding cricketers worldwide.
Interestingly, Samit is not the first in his lineage to miss out on playing in the U19 World Cup. His father, Rahul Dravid, known for his impeccable technique and illustrious cricketing career, also never played in this youth tournament. During Rahul’s cricketing years, the ICC had not conducted a U19 World Cup between 1988 and 1998, thus depriving that generation of young cricketers the opportunity to shine on a massive platform before stepping into international cricket.
Samit’s absence from the U19 World Cup could shift the focus more on the other talented players who have made their mark in various domestic competitions and have demonstrated their ability to represent India on a bigger stage. The selection of the U19 squad has always been a critical task for the BCCI, as the U19 World Cup serves as a launching pad for numerous future stars.
.
Here is a closer look at the current India U19 squad, which includes players from various state cricket associations, ready to take on upcoming challenges both in one-day and four-day formats.
India U19 squad for the one-day series is led by Rudra Patel from GCA as the Vice-Captain along with other talents like Sahil Parakh (MAHCA), Kartikeya KP (KSCA), and Mohd Amaan from UPCA who is set to Captain the team. Other key players include Kiran Chormale (MAHCA), Abhigyan Kundu from MCA as the wicket-keeper, Harvansh Singh Pangalia (WK) from SCA, the versatile Samit Dravid from KSCA, and Yudhajit Guha from CAB. Emerging players like Samarth N (KSCA), Nikhil Kumar from UTCA, Chetan Sharma (RCA), Hardik Raj (KSCA), Rohit Rajawat from MPCA, and Mohd Enaan (KCA) complete the robust lineup.
For the four-day series, the squad is packed with promising cricketers such as Vaibhav Suryavanshi from Bihar CA, who undoubtedly will be looking to make an impact. Nitya Pandya from BCA, Vihan Malhotra from PCA serving as the Vice-Captain, and Soham Patwardhan from MPCA taking the helm as the Captain of this format. The team features consistent performers such as Kartikeya K P (KSCA), and the reliable wicket-keepers Abhigyan Kundu from MCA and Harvansh Singh Pangalia from SCA. Stars like Chetan Sharma (RCA), Samarth N (KSCA), Aditya Rawat (CAU), Nikhil Kumar (UTCA), Anmoljeet Singh (PCA), Aditya Singh (UPCA), and Mohd Enaan (KCA) bolster the squad, making it a balanced and competitive group.
The absence of Samit Dravid from the U19 World Cup squad underscores the often harsh realities of age restrictions in youth sports, while, at the same time, it highlights the depth of talent emerging from India’s cricketing academies. With each player aiming to make their mark, the excitement and fierce competition ensure that Indian cricket continues its legacy of nurturing world-class talent. As the preparatory stages for the U19 World Cup unfold, all eyes will be on this young contingent to see who steps up and makes a significant impact, potentially the next big name in Indian cricket.
