Why Samit Dravid won't play in 2026 U-19 World Cup despite India call-up

New Delhi: Samit Dravid, son of former India captain and head coach Rahul Dravid, recently made headlines by earning his first India U-19 call-up. The 18-year-old was selected for the upcoming multi-format series against Australia, scheduled to take place in September and October 2024. This recognition comes after Samit's outstanding performance for Karnataka in the Cooch Behar Trophy earlier this year, where his all-round abilities were on full display.

Impressive domestic performance

Samit has been showcasing his skills in the Maharaja T20 Trophy in Karnataka, where he represents the Mysuru Warriors. As a middle-order batsman, he has accumulated 82 runs across seven innings at a strike rate of 114. However, his fast-bowling talent has yet to be fully utilized in the tournament. Samit's most notable achievement this season was in the Cooch Behar Trophy, a prestigious U-19 four-day domestic tournament. There, he scored an impressive 362 runs and took 16 wickets in just eight matches, proving his potential as an all-rounder.

Watch the brilliant strokeplay of Samit Dravid here:

Why Samit won't feature in U-19 World Cup 2026

Despite his recent call-up, Samit Dravid is unlikely to be part of the India U-19 World Cup squad in 2026. The primary reason for this is his age. Born on November 10, 2005, Samit will be nearing his 21st birthday when the 2026 U-19 World Cup takes place. The tournament’s age limit rules will render him ineligible for selection by that time.

Interestingly, Samit's father, Rahul Dravid, faced a similar situation during his youth. Despite being selected for an India U-19 series against New Zealand in 1992, Rahul missed out on the U-19 World Cup because the ICC had not yet held the tournament regularly—only two editions had taken place by then, in 1988 and 1998.

Upcoming India U-19 series against Australia

Samit Dravid will soon be in action for the India U-19 team during their upcoming series against Australia. The one-day series will kick off in Puducherry on September 21, with subsequent matches on September 23 and 26. The team will be led by Uttar Pradesh’s Mohammad Amaan. Following this, the series will shift to Chennai for two four-day matches starting on September 30 and October 7, with Madhya Pradesh’s Soham Patwardhan serving as captain for this leg.