 "Samit Dravid, son of former India cricketer and coach Rahul Dravid, in a file photo. Image: X")
Samit Dravid, son of former India captain and coach Rahul Dravid, sustained a knee injury recently and has thus missed the first Youth Test between India Under-19 and Australia Under-19 that began at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium on Monday (30 September). The 18 year-old had also missed the recently-concluded Youth ODI series played between the two sides, which India won 3-0.
Samit , who has been undergoing rehabilitation at the recently-inaugurated Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, remans doubtful for the second Youth Test as well. The second Test begins on 7 October in Chennai.
Samit is yet to make his India Under-19 debut, and may not get a chance to represent the side if the injury continues to keep him out. Samit will celebrate his 19th birthday on 11 October and once he turns 19, he will become ineligible to play for India at the 2026 U19 World Cup.
Team management to observe how Samit progresses
A BCCI official has said that the team management will observe how Samit progresses from the injury in the next week. The India Under-19 cricket team is coached by Hrishikesh Kanitkar.
“His MRI scan was done during the one-day matches. We thought of giving him a go at the four-day game, but let’s see how he progresses at the NCA. We are waiting for their report. We also have a second match,” a source in the know of the development told PTI.
Samit’s crucial rule in Cooch Behar Trophy
Samit played a pivotal role in Karnataka’s title-winning run at the Cooch Behar Trophy, India’s top domestic tournament for Under-19 players. He scored 362 runs from eight games and took 16 wickets, helping Karnataka clinch their maiden title. He showcased his fluent batting skills with a knock of 98 against Jammu and Kashmir.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsBarring a below-par performance at the Maharaja T20 Trophy, a senior men’s tournament, Samit has been impressive in the junior cricket circuit. Samit has showcased his all-round skills in junior cricket, batting as a top-order batter as well as bowling medium pace on a part-time basis.
Full squads of first Youth Test:
India: Soham Patwardhan (captain), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Vihaan Malhotra, Nitya Pandya, KP Karthikeya, Abhigyan Kundu (wicketkeeper), Nikhil Kumar, Mohammed Enaan, Samarth Nagaraj, Aaditya Singh, Aditya Rawat.
Australia: Simon Budge (wicketkeeper/captain), Zac Curtain, Oliver Peake, Steven Hogan, Christian Howe, Riley Kingsell, Addison Sheriff, Aidan O Connor, Thomas Brown, Hayden Schiller, Vishwa Ramkumar.