Samit Dravid's World Cup Absence And India's Champions...

Why Samit Dravid Won’t Feature in the World Cup Despite India’s U-19 Selection

Rising star of the Indian domestic scene, Samit Dravid, the 18-year-old son of cricket legend Rahul Dravid, has been selected in the 15-member India U-19 squad for the upcoming one-day and four-day series against Australia U-19, scheduled for September and October.

Despite this timely breakthrough for the talented youngster, Samit Dravid won’t be eligible to represent India in the U-19 World Cup. He will exceed the age limit of 19 by the time the 16th edition of the tournament takes place in 2026.

A similar scenario occurred with his father during his early career. Although Rahul Dravid was chosen for the U-19 series against New Zealand in 1992, he missed out on participating in the second edition of the U-19 World Cup 1998.

Samit Dravid gained attention for his impressive performances with Karnataka in the Cooch Behar Trophy, where he scored 362 runs and took 16 wickets. He plays for the Mysore Warriors in the ongoing Maharaja T20 Trophy.

So far, his top score in the tournament is a fluent 33, resulting in a losing effort against the Gulbarga Mystics. Interestingly, his fast bowling skills remain unused.

Shifting the focus to the upcoming Australia U-19 series, where Samit is expected to play a key all-round role, the two series will be held at different venues. The three-match ODI series is set to take place in Puducherry, while the two multi-day games will be played in Chennai.

Uttar Pradesh’s Mohammad Amaan will lead the team in the 50-over series. At the same time, Madhya Pradesh’s Soham Patwardhan will captain the side during the four-day matches.

Former Cricketer Discusses Why India Should Avoid Traveling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy

With the ICC Champions Trophy just six months away, uncertainty remains about India’s participation, given that Pakistan is the host nation. The Indian cricket team has not visited Pakistan in over a decade due to security concerns. As Pakistan prepares to host the ICC event next February, the Indian government will likely reassess its stance on sending the team.

The global cricket organization may introduce a hybrid model for the tournament, allowing India to play its matches in a neutral venue. Although the BCCI has not yet made an official decision, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh thinks that Team India will not travel to Pakistan for the event because of security concerns.

“What they say is what they think is right, while what we say is our point of view. I feel the security concerns are always there, and if the security of the players is not ensured there, then I don’t think that the team should go there,” Harbhajan told Sports Tak.

The former India cricketer added that even if Pakistan guarantees complete security for the Indian players, the final decision will still rest with the Indian central government.

“If they say that the teams will get full security and there is no hassle, then it’s on the government to think and make decisions because, in the end, it’s not just about cricketing matters, and the issue goes beyond. As a cricketer, I can say if you wish to play cricket, but the security concern is always there, and players should not go there until the security is guaranteed,” he added.

Various media reports suggest that the ICC has already developed a Plan B in case India does not travel to Pakistan. The global organization is said to have allocated approximately $65 million to cover the costs of hosting matches at alternative locations.

The Indian team last visited Pakistan in 2008 for the Asia Cup, while Pakistan’s most recent visit to India was in 2023 for the ODI World Cup.

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Katarzyna Nowak

Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for 24kbet, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.