India under-19 switch to two-match Youth Test in Rajkot after 3-0 ODI sweep

India under-19 begin a two-match Youth Test series against Australia at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Sunday after completing a 3-0 sweep in the Youth ODI series. The first match is scheduled to start at 9.30 a.m.

Home captain Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan and deputy Lakshya Raichandani carry momentum from the one-day victories into the red-ball contests. Yashbardhan was among India’s most consistent performers in the 50-over series, signing off with a century after making a fifty earlier. Lakshya found his form with an unbeaten century in the final match. Both players will now face the demands of longer stays at the crease and a greater emphasis on patience in multi-day cricket.

The multi-day squad has a slightly different composition from the one used in the one-dayers. Aaryavir Sehwag and Anvay Dravid are not part of the multi-day group. Wicketkeeper-batters Manav Krishna and Abhipray Biswas are included in the 15, while Manal Chauhan, Kushagra Ojha, Sagar Virk and Kush Patel are named to strengthen the batting options.

Pace options for India include Ayaan Akram, Pranav Ragavendra and Mohit Ulva. Those seamers will have to make adjustments on what could be another flat deck. The change in format requires different bowling plans than the recent one-day programme.

Australia will be aiming to bounce back in the red-ball fixtures. Its batters showed glimpses of resistance during the one-dayers, but India’s attack continued to find breakthroughs. The visiting team will have more time in the Youth Tests to settle in and test its skills.

The two-match Youth Test series gets under way at Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot, with the opening game starting at 9.30 a.m. on Sunday.