Young Indians all set for Costcutter Challenge 2000

The Costcutter World Challenge starting in England today gives a talented Indian Under-15 side a very good chance to showcase its talent. Having won the last edition of the Under-15 World Cup in England, India will have a reputation to defend. This time around, they go to England high on confidence after beating all opposition in the Asian Cricket Council Under-15 Tournament held in Malaysia.

Going with the motto 'never change a winning combination', the Indians have named an unchanged side for the Costcutter World Challenge. Nikhil Choudhury who sustained a knee injury, has been unable to recover in time and is replaced by Vasu Devdas. Devadas has had a super run in Under-14 cricket of late, the peak being a knock of 214 scored in the final of a local tournament organised by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association. The authorities have also decided to continue with coach Roger Binny and manager Professor Ratnakar Shetty.

The Indian team defeated Pakistan at Lord's in a match attended by almost ten thousand people in 1996 to bring home the Lombard Challenge Under-15 Cup.

Mrigen Talukdar, Ambati Tirupati Rayudu, Palash Jothi Das and Abhinav Kumar are the players likely to hog the headlines in this World Cup. Having scored heavily in Malaysia, Rayudu will be especially keen to do well in England and catch the eye of selectors back home. After returning from Malaysia, Binny said of him, "He plays his cricket hard. When he's out in the middle, he doesn't mess around. Going for his strokes from the beginning, he consistently hits the ball hard"

India have always done well at age group cricket. In the Costcutter World Challenge, India finds itself in the company of England, Holland and West Indies in Group 'A'. Although the West Indies are likely to have some exciting young talent, it is England who India will be more worried about. They have a distinct advantage in playing at home. The conditions the Indians are used to playing in are far removed from what will greet them in England. The uninhibited strokeplay that has taken them far on the flat pitches of the sub continent will not pay as rich dividends with the ball seaming and swinging around. The Indians will have to adapt their style of play if they are to pose a serious challenge. However, as Binny says "the Under-15 cricketers of this generation are far more mature cricketers than we were at their age. The key difference is exposure."

In Group 'B', South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe will fight for places in the semi finals. Binny has said before that "Sri Lanka have a very strong junior programme. Schools cricket is very strong there, and they have some very good development programmes as well. Pakistan has always been a good side." Whoever makes the semi finals, one thing is clear. For a group of Under-15 cricketers, the joy of playing the final at Lord's on August 10 should be incentive enough. After all, not every one gets to wield a willow or deliver a ball at the Mecca of Cricket.