Samit Dravid's Maiden India U-19 Call-Up: Why he will Miss the 2026 U-19 World Cup?

New Delhi: The talented son of former Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid, Samit Dravid, has recently grabbed headlines for his selection in the India U-19 team for the upcoming multi-format series against Australia U-19 in September. Samit has been included in both the 50 overs and four-day squads of the India U-19 team. In contrast to his famous father, who led the senior Indian team to victory in the T20 World Cup in Barbados, Samit is an all-rounder with a focus on pace bowling. He showcased his skills during Karnataka's successful campaign in the Cooch Behar Trophy 2023-24.

However, Samit won’t be able to represent India U-19 in the upcoming World Cup in 2026. Born on November 10, 2005, Samit is currently 19 years old and by the time the 2026 U-19 World Cup comes, he will be 21. He was eligible to play in the U-19 World Cup this year but wasn’t selected.

Samit is currently playing for Mysore Warriors in the ongoing KSCA Maharaja T20 trophy in Bengaluru. However, his outings so far have been underwhelming with the bat – 82 runs from seven innings with a highest of 33, and he is yet to bowl in the tournament. But earlier this year, Samit had a productive time in the Cooch Behar Trophy, playing an important role in Karnataka’s maiden title triumph in the event.

The 18-year-old made 362 runs from eight matches and his 98 against Jammu and Kashmir stood out for its quality and fluency. Samit also had a memorable tournament with the ball, where he claimed 16 scalps in eight matches, including two in the final against Mumbai.

India U-19’s three-match one-day series will be held in Puducherry on September 21, 23 and 26, and India will be led by Uttar Pradesh’s Mohammad Amaan. The series will then roll to Chennai for two four-day matches beginning on September 30 and October 7. The India squad for this leg of the tour will be captained by Soham Patwardhan of Madhya Pradesh.