Aaryavir Sehwag debuts as Anvay Dravid’s 38 secures India U19 seven-run win over Australia U19
India Under-19 edged Australia Under-19 by seven runs in the rain-shortened first Youth ODI at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Friday, with the match reduced to 20 overs per side.
Aaryavir Sehwag made his India U19 debut and attracted attention as the son of Virender Sehwag, who was present at the ground; the opener scored 28 off 26 balls, including five boundaries, before Spencer Green dismissed him just after the Powerplay. Opening partner Lakshya Raichandani made 15 and Kushagra Ojha contributed 16 off 14 as India slipped to 65/3, and Arjun Rajput added a quick 15 off eight deliveries as India were 88/4 after 11.5 overs.
Anvay Dravid, identified in the team as the son of Rahul Dravid, walked in with India 88/4 and just over eight overs remaining and began his innings with a single while Yashbardhan Chauhan held the other end. Once he accelerated, Dravid compiled 38 off 18 balls with two fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 211.11, his first boundary arriving in the 13th over as India reached 100.
The 14th over produced a 22-run burst: Chauhan began with a six off Spencer Green, Dravid struck his first six in the same over, and Chauhan added two more fours to push the scoring. Dravid then cleared the ropes again in the 15th over off Eli Brain and added another four in the following over; his partnership with Chauhan yielded 69 runs before Eli Brain bowled him in the 18th over.
Dravid’s cameo took India to 157/5 at the time of his dismissal and the lower order added runs to finish on 182/6. Australia replied aggressively, with Neel Patel scoring 45 off 31 balls, Hayden Barbulovic making 40 off 24 and captain Jack Czosnek hitting 55 off 27, but India restricted the chase.
Australia were dismissed for 175/7 in 20 overs, handing India a seven-run victory; Aaryavir’s debut provided an early spark while Anvay Dravid’s late assault proved decisive in setting a defendable total that India held to seal the win.
