New Look for India U19: Anvay Dravid Headlines Squad for Sri Lanka Tour

The BCCI has unveiled a overhauled Indian U19 squad for the upcoming July tour of Sri Lanka, featuring fresh talent and a transition in leadership.

The cycle of youth cricket in India is nothing if not relentless. Following the high-octane success of the U19 World Cup earlier this year, where stars like Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre cemented their reputations, the selectors have opted for a clean slate. The BCCI’s Junior Cricket Committee announced the squad on June 11, 2026, marking a definitive shift as the team gears up for a crucial series in Sri Lanka.

The roster for the one-day and multi-day matches reveals a significant infusion of new blood. Notably, Anvay Dravid—the younger son of former head coach Rahul Dravid—has earned his maiden call-up to the IND U19 side. The wicketkeeper-batter has been drafted specifically for the limited-overs leg of the tour, a move that will surely invite plenty of scrutiny and interest from followers of the game.

Leadership and Composition

The challenge of leading the side across both white-ball and red-ball formats falls to Yashvardhan Singh Chauhan, who has been named captain. Alongside him, Lakshya Raichandani will serve as the vice-captain for the duration of the tour. While the core of the team has been refreshed, the selectors have maintained a balance between wicketkeeping depth and batting versatility, with players like Rajat Baghel and Anvay Dravid sharing responsibilities behind the stumps in the one-day setup.

The tour kicks off on July 4 in Hambantota with the first of three one-dayers, followed by two multi-day matches in Galle and Colombo. This itinerary is designed to test the technical foundations of these teenagers in varying conditions, a hallmark of the BCCI’s developmental roadmap for future first-class cricketers.

Why it matters

This squad overhaul is a reminder of the "conveyor belt" nature of Indian cricket. By moving on from the World Cup batch so quickly, the board is prioritising the development of the next tier of talent. While players like Vaibhav Suryavanshi continue to make waves in other competitive circuits, the focus here is on identifying a new generation capable of sustaining India’s dominance at the junior level. For youngsters like Anvay Dravid, the pressure of the surname is unavoidable, but the primary goal remains the same: performance. The transition from regional circuits to the national U19 level is the most vital step in the career of an aspiring professional, and this tour serves as the first real litmus test for this specific group.