Sri Lanka face India in U19 World Cup opener
View(s):Sri Lanka will meet defending champions India today in their opening game of the U19 World Cup at the Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein in South Africa.
Sri Lanka, India, New Zealand and newcomers Japan are in group ‘A’ while Australia, England, West Indies and Nigeria are in group ‘B’. In group ‘C’ Pakistan, Bangladesh Zimbabwe and Scotland battle it out while hosts South Africa, Afghanistan, UAE and Canada are in group ‘D’ for the league round.
Sri Lanka is led by left-handed batsman Nipun Dhananjaya, who also featured in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2018 in New Zealand.
Sri Lanka’s batting would revolve around skipper Dhananjaya, Ravindu Rasantha, Kavindu Nadeeshan and Ahan Wikramasinghe. Chamindu Wijesinghe, Dilshan Madhushanka and Amshi de Silva slot in as the frontline seam bowlers, while Ashen Daniel will lead the spin attack with his off-breaks.
India under the captaincy of Priyam Garg, will look to begin their campaign on high against Sri Lanka.
India is the most successful team in the tournament, having won four titles till date, including the last edition in 2018, when the Prithvi-Shaw led team beat Australia by eight wickets in the final and remained unbeaten in the tournament.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super League stage. The final of the tournament will be played at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on February 9.
Teams
- Sri Lanka squad: Nipun Dananjaya (Captain), Navod Paranavithana, Kamil Mishara, Ahan Wickremesinghe, Sonal Dinusha, Ravindu Rashantha, Mohammed Shamaaz, Thaveesha Abhishek, M.A. Chamindu Wijesinghe, Ashen Daniel, Dilum Sudeera, Kavindu Nadeeshan, L.M. Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Amshi de Silva
- India squad: Priyam Garg (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Divyaansh Saxena, Dhruv Chand Jurel (vc), Shashwat Rawat, Siddhesh Veer, Shubhang Hegde, Ravi Bishnoi, Akash Singh, Kartik Tyagi, Atharva Ankolekar, Kumar Kushagra, Sushant Mishra, Vidyadhar Patil