Rohit Yadav Withdrawn from India U-19 Over Age Issue
India’s build-up to the home Under-19 series against Australia has taken an abrupt turn, with legspinner Rohit Yadav withdrawn from both squads over age discrepancies, forcing a late reshuffle to a group that had just returned from a highly successful tour of Sri Lanka.
Rohit, who impressed in Sri Lanka with six wickets across the two-match four-day series, now steps aside as selectors move quickly to steady the plans for a key home assignment. His absence opens the door for two fresh faces: Aryan Savsani and Tanmay Baloda.
Savsani, from the Saurashtra Cricket Association, slots into the One-Day squad. Baloda, representing the Haryana Cricket Association, joins the Multi-Day group. Both arrive at a time when competition for places is fierce and opportunities are rare, especially in a side humming with form.
Raichandani at the Helm
At the heart of this squad is Lakshya Raichandani, a batter who has turned the recent Sri Lanka tour into his personal statement of intent.
He captains the One-Day side and hands the armband to Yashbardhan Chauhan for the Multi-Day fixtures, with the pair swapping roles across formats. It’s a neat symmetry on paper, but it’s Raichandani’s numbers that really command attention.
Across the two four-day matches in Sri Lanka, the Uttarakhand right-hander piled up 307 runs at a staggering average of 153.50. He struck a commanding 207 in Galle, then followed it with an unbeaten 100 in Colombo, the sort of back-to-back hundreds that instantly change how a young player is viewed in selection meetings.
He already has four first-class matches to his name, with 223 runs and three half-centuries. For an Under-19 captain, that kind of early red-ball grounding gives India a reassuring anchor at the top of the order.
Runs Flowing Through the Order
Raichandani was not alone in Sri Lanka. Several of his current teammates used that tour to sharpen their claims.
Sagar Virk produced a 134 in the first four-day game, a knock that set the tone for India’s dominance. In the second, the middle order flexed: Manal Chauhan hammered 150, while Kushagra Ojha added 111, underlining the depth and resilience in this batting unit.
Those scores weren’t isolated flashes. They were part of a broader pattern of control and composure that India will want to carry into the Australia series, where pressure tends to rise with every over, every session, every mistake.
Next Generation, Famous Surnames
The One-Day squad list also carries a touch of nostalgia for Indian fans. Two surnames leap off the sheet: Sehwag and Dravid.
Aaryavir Sehwag, son of former India opener Virender Sehwag, features in the One-Day group. So does Anvay Dravid, son of former India captain Rahul Dravid. For both youngsters, the legacy is unavoidable, but the stage is theirs now.
Anvay already has a small but telling mark at this level. He toured Sri Lanka with the India U-19s in July and struck 87 in the second One-Day game, showing the calmness and range expected from a modern top-order batter. He is one of two wicketkeepers in the One-Day squad, alongside Rajat Baghel, giving the side flexibility in both team balance and fielding options.
Australia Await, Rajkot and Ahmedabad Ready
The schedule is tight, the stakes clear.
Three One-Day matches against Australia U-19 will be played in Rajkot on September 18, 21 and 23. Those games will test India’s white-ball tempo, their ability to attack in bursts and absorb pressure when the ball moves or the pitch grips.
Then comes the longer examination. Two four-day fixtures follow: September 27-30 in Rajkot, and October 5-8 in Ahmedabad. That’s where the Multi-Day squad, with Baloda stepping into the space vacated by Rohit, will be judged on patience, discipline, and the art of winning sessions rather than just overs.
One-Day Squad in Full
India U-19 One-Day squad: Lakshya Raichandani (c), Yashbardhan Chauhan (vc), Rajat Baghel (wk), Aaryavir Sehwag, V.K. Vineet, Kushagra Ojha, Arjun Rajput, Manal Chauhan, Anvay Dravid (wk), V. Yashveer, Shavin Vinodh, Mohit Ulva, Chigurupati Venkata, Kavya Patel, Aryan Savsani
An age-related withdrawal on the eve of a marquee series is never ideal. Yet this group, armed with runs from Sri Lanka, fresh call-ups hungry to prove a point, and a captain in rare form, now faces the kind of early career test that often shapes futures.
