Teen captain, U19 World Cup squad, big cricket updates unfold

From U19 World Cup sqaud to Brett Lee’s Hall of Fame honour, major developments emerge across Indian and global cricket

Indian cricket witnessed a series of important developments across age-group, domestic and international platforms, highlighting both emerging talent and celebrated legends.

The India Under-19 squad for the series against South Africa Under-19 has been announced, but regular captain Ayush Mhatre has been ruled out due to injury. In a major decision, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been handed the captaincy. The three-match series begins on January 3 and is seen as a crucial build-up event with the upcoming Under-19 World Cup in focus.

Meanwhile, Team India’s Under-19 World Cup squad has also been officially revealed. A strong 15-member team has been selected, with Ayush Mhatre named captain for the global tournament. Key players include Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Kanishk Chauhan, Vihaan Malhotra and Abhignyan Kundu. India will start its World Cup campaign against the USA on January 15.

Also Read:Watching reels on Namma Metro? Heavy fines coming for mobile nuisance

In senior cricket, Shreyas Iyer has stepped up preparations for a return to competitive action. The Indian batter recently trained at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, where he underwent fitness tests and spent time batting in the nets against young fast bowlers. After suffering a serious injury during the Australia tour, Iyer is eyeing a possible comeback in the New Zealand series.

In women’s cricket, Mumbai Indians have begun preparations for the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL). Players and support staff have started assembling in Mumbai, including head coach Lisa Knightly and mentor Jhulan Goswami. The team is expected to begin practice sessions shortly, with the tournament set to begin on January 9.

On the honours front, Australian pace legend Brett Lee has been inducted into the Cricket Australia Hall of Fame. Lee played 76 Tests, claiming 310 wickets, and 221 ODIs with 221 wickets. He was a key member of Australia’s 1999, 2003 and 2007 ODI World Cup-winning teams.

Also Read:Bengaluru mall’s ‘Reserved for Mothers-to-Be’ parking wins hearts, goes viral

Adding to the action, West Indies star Kieron Pollard produced explosive batting in the International League T20. Against Dubai Capitals, Pollard smashed 30 runs in a single over, hitting four sixes, one boundary and two runs in the 15th over. He also achieved the milestone of 300 sixes as a T20 captain.