2026 Under-19 World Cup: Bowling coach outlines India’s preparation and challenges of coaching junior teams

Rajib Datta: This process has started around 8-9 months now, which is normally what we do. The COE under VVS’s (VVS Laxman) leadership is very keen that the preparations are to the best of what we can provide for these youngsters to go and express themselves out there in the international tournament. Obviously, the aspirations are always to win a tournament of that stature of the World Cup.

What are the different challenges you face coaching junior teams?

Rajib Datta:The cricket doesn’t change. It’s very similar. Basically, we really don’t look at a World Cup. The preparation still remains the same whether we are going for a series, whether we are going for a World Cup, or whether we are going for the Asia Cup. It’s about being in the best frame of mind. We are physically there, we have completed our skills, so we go there, we have no hinges. We can try and perform to the best of our abilities.

What are the key things you look at before picking a player for the Challenger Trophy of the U-19 World Cup for India?

Rajib Datta:Being able to perform under pressure, understanding preparation, and the skill sets that would be needed in an international game. So it’s all five different departments, the tactical, the technical, the physical, the mental, and obviously their life skills. (On lifeskills) Their ability to remain patient, their ability to handle pressure, their ability to keep timings, their ability to have those work ethics, and their growth mentality. All these things are monitored. And they have been, they are being monitored for about 365 days now.

U-19 players in action. (FILE photo)

There have been many instances where a star at the U-19 does not see the same success later. Where do you think it goes wrong?

Rajib Datta:See, what we say, we have our domestic structure, don’t we? And Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali, and Vijay Hazare are the three main trophies at the senior level. We have one competition below it, that’s on the 23. So this is a process where they will play the under-19s, they will move on to the 23s, to the seniors. And they will have to keep performing at those stages, which is one step above. For them to ultimately play for the country. So they will have to travel this bridge, they will have to travel this path. So it’s a process.

Last time India reached the final and could not get over the line, what is this team going to do differently?

Rajib Datta:We are really not looking at what happened last time because that was a different place, a different team, a different combination. In junior cricket, you have your ups and downs, but we have been consistently doing very well in the junior World Cup. From the inception of it, whether it’s the boys, the girls, lately we are winning all the senior tournaments as well. It’s just giving them those platforms to go and express, understand what’s happening around the world.

We have been on tours to England, Australia. We are now playing in the Triangular Series with Afghanistan, so that we can understand how other teams prepare. Different conditions, different pitches, different situations. Take them through that whole shebang so that they are ready for that tournament.

The pitches here in India or not what you get in South Africa, so how are you looking to prepare?

Rajib Datta:These wickets have been really good. This really has challenged the batters early on, especially with the new ball, which we were expecting over there. So, as far as the preparatory things go or as far as the selectors wanted to see, I think they have had a fair idea of what’s going to happen. Apart from that, there is a program for players to individually prepare. It has been monitored by the COE and a group of coaches and support staff from the SSM team over the last 365 days. So it’s not that something has started now. We had already started 365 days before.