Top 3 Indian Players To Watch Out For In Men's U19 Asia Cup 2023

Kaushik Kashyap

image-lpv4xdzpIndia U19. [PC: Ajay Ratra]

ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup is all set to commence from Friday, December 8th 2023 in Dubai. This will be the 10th edition of the tournament which was first held in the year 1989 in Bangladesh.

Over the years, some of the biggest Indian cricket stars have played in this tournament before making it big in the international arena. Players like Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal and so many others have announced themselves for the first time to the world playing in the U19 Asia Cup.

Team India are currently the title holders and also the most successful team in the history of the competition, having won it for the record eight times. They will be eyeing to continue their dominance in the forthcoming edition and make it nine titles in their bag.

As the Indian U19 side led by Uday Saharan gears up to take on Afghanistan U19 in their opening game of the U19 Asia Cup, let’s take a look at the top three Indian players to watch out for in the tournament going forward.

Musheer Khan

image-lpv4g9snMusheer Khan. [PC: Ajay Ratra]

Being someone who can bat anywhere in the top six and bowls left-arm orthodox, Musheer is going to be very crucial for India U19 in the next couple of months. If we go by the records, you will find him in the top four of both runs and wickets’ list in almost every U19 tournament played around the country in the last three months.

He made a 39-ball century, smashing all-round the ground in the final of the recently concluded quadrangular series to seal the title for his team. There is no way Musheer will not start as one of the early contenders to be the best player in the next two months for India U19.

Naman Tiwari

image-lpv4eg2sNaman Tiwari. [PC: Naman Tiwari]

Indian cricket has had its problem of producing left-arm seamers who are good and consistent enough to play in the international arena. So, whenever there is a noise about a young left-arm seamer coming up into the scene, there are very few things which excites us more than that.

Naman Tiwari from Uttar Pradesh is a left-arm seamer who has managed to secure a place in the India U19 squad for the upcoming U19 Asia Cup. 

The 18-year-old seemed to have a decent pace and targets the stumps more often then not. His ability to move the ball both ways off the pitch has worked out well for him so far.  His capability to take wickets in bunches with the new ball sets him apart from the rest.


Moreover, he is good enough to come back and get breakthroughs during the middle overs. In the recently concluded quadrangular series featuring Bangladesh U19 and England 19, Naman took 12 wickets in four games, including a five-wicket haul against Bangladesh which earned him a place in the 15-member India U19 squad for the Asia Cup.

Rudra Mayur Patel

image-lpv4debzRudra Mayur Patel [PC: IDCF]

Rudra Mayur Patel from Gujarat has taken the U19 stage into a storm in the ongoing domestic season. The right-handed opener has been the most consistent batter in the current India U19 team, scoring six centuries, including a double century in the last three months.

The 17 year-old have all kind of shots to smash all kind of bowlers all-around the park and at a brisk pace. He was the second highest run-scorer in Vinoo Mankad Trophy this season, which was followed by two more centuries in the Challengers Trophy in Guwahati.

He was the player of the series in the recently concluded quadrangular series for his 568 runs in seven innings at an average of over 113, including five half centuries and a century. Despite not being part of the U19 Camp in the NCA earlier this year, Rudra managed to break the door of India U19 selection.  

Considering his stroke-making and current form, there is no doubt Rudra will catch a lot of eyeballs in the U19 Asia Cup and the forthcoming U19 World Cup in South Africa later next month.