Dubai, Dec 11: India's campaign at the ACC U-19 Asia Cup will be driven by Gen Z batting prodigies Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre, two of the most exciting young cricketers in the domestic circuit.
But as the team lands in Dubai for the continental tournament starting December 12, an unexpected storyline looms over cricketing discussions - whether the BCCI will allow the Indian colts to exchange handshakes with Pakistan's U-19 players, a gesture that has become politically loaded at the senior level.
Under the leadership of Mumbai's dashing opener and Chennai Super Kings prospect Ayush Mhatre, India begin their campaign against UAE on Friday. But it is Sunday's clash against Pakistan that has already dominated headlines, becoming the most anticipated fixture in a tournament viewed as a dress rehearsal for the U-19 World Cup early next year.
Over the last year, senior Indian men's and women's squads have refused to shake hands with Pakistan players in global competitions, marking solidarity with the Indian Army and victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. Such gestures have become statements-part political, part emotional-reflecting the heightened sentiment around India-Pakistan sporting encounters.
The situation, however, becomes more delicate at the junior level.
Speaking to PTI, a BCCI official familiar with the internal discussions acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue. "The boys haven't been told anything. But obviously BCCI has given explicit instructions to manager Anand Datar. If Indian boys don't shake hands with the Pakistan team then the match referee will have to be informed in advance," the official said, requesting anonymity.
Global cricket administrators are watching closely as well. The ICC, according to the official, prefers that politics not overshadow junior cricket, pushing for the traditional post-match protocol that symbolises sportsmanship.
"We know for a fact that ICC doesn't want politics to take front seat when it comes to junior cricket. So it is a case of both bad optics and public sentiment," the official added.
On the cricketing front, India and Pakistan appear overwhelming favourites to progress from Group A, which also features Malaysia and UAE. Both associate teams lack substantial 50-over experience, making the India-Pakistan fixture even more decisive in shaping semifinal dynamics.
What strengthens India's title credentials further is the firepower of its batting core. Both Mhatre and Suryavanshi have arrived in Dubai on the back of dazzling performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Mhatre hammered back-to-back centuries and a fifty in the group stage, while Suryavanshi became the youngest player in SMAT history to score a hundred, achieving the feat against Maharashtra.
Within India's 15-member squad, Mhatre and Suryavanshi stand out not only for their form but for their experience. Between them, they have played over 30 senior-level matches across formats, scoring nine centuries - more than the combined tally of players from all seven other teams in the competition. It is a staggering statistic that underlines why India enter the U-19 Asia Cup as runaway favourites.
