Fever pitch: 2 Punjab cricketers pad up for U-19 World Cup

There is more good news for Punjab cricket. Sandeep will not be the lone cricketer from the state to travel to the land of the Kiwis. Jalandhar batsman Mandeep Singh will not only play for the team but also be its vice-captain.

Two years ago,when India defeated South Africa in the Youth World Cup final to clinch the title in Malaysia,the Punjab duo of Taruwar Kohli and Sidharth Kaul were part of the winning squad. This time around,Sandeep and Mandeep,who have similar sounding nicknames too — ‘Sandy’ and ‘Mandy’ — will hope to repeat the feat.

India will kick off the tournament with a match against Afghanistan on January 15 in Lincoln. Before the World Cup in New Zealand,the India U-19 team will head to South Africa for a short series.

Speaking to Newsline from Chennai,16-year-old Sandeep said: “This is a big opportunity for me. I hope to do well for my team and deliver the goods. My hard work has paid off finally. I will use this platform and make an impression.”

Sandeep first shone when he took 33 wickets in the Under-15 all-India tournament,followed by 34 wickets in an Under-16 tournament,last year. This year,he impressed everyone in the Under-19 Zonal Cricket Academy tournament,grabbing 37 wickets.

While it is the first time for Sandeep,17-year-old Mandeep is now a regular face in the India U-19 squad. Mandeep first made it to the U-19 team in April this year,when it toured Australia. Mandeep stole the show,hitting two blazing tonnes against Australian Colts during the series.

On being appointed the vice-captain,an elated Mandeep said: “I am on top of the world. The camps at National Cricket Academy and Zonal Cricket Academy did wonders for me and improved my game a lot. I will work hard to bear the responsibility of being the vice-captain of the team and also score loads of runs for my team. I think the matches we play in South Africa will be important for us as we will get acclimatised to bouncy tracks.”

Apart from Sandeep and Mandeep,three more Punjab lads — Pargat Singh,Gurinder Singh and Baltez Singh — were also considered for the team but could not make the final cut.

Bali,who was assistant coach of the U-19 team that won in Malaysia,said: “Both Sandeep and Mandeep are tremendous cricketers. They will lend great strength to the Indian squad. Both have worked hard in the preparatory camps and are full of confidence. I am sure they will do well and emerge victorious.”