Will Punjab's Young Talents Shine in U19 England Tour?

New Delhi, May 22 (NationPress) Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh offered his heartfelt wishes to young cricketers from Punjab - Vihaan Malhotra, Rahul Kumar, and Anmoljeet Singh - for their selection in the squad for India U19's forthcoming tour of England.

This talented trio has been included in the squad led by Ayush Mhatre, which features a 50-over warm-up match, followed by a five-match Youth One-Day Series and two Multi-Day matches against England U19 from June 24 to July 23.

Harbhajan spoke exclusively to IANS, expressing his happiness over the trio’s inclusion and commended the Punjab Cricket Association for their unwavering commitment to the advancement of Indian cricket.

"Today is a moment of joy as three players from Punjab join the U19 team. Vihaan, Rahul, and Anmolpreet are exceptionally skilled. I hope they return triumphantly, and I extend my sincere congratulations to their families and coaches," stated Harbhajan, who serves as the Chief Cricketing Advisor of the Punjab Cricket Association.

Vihaan, a left-handed opening batter, was the vice-captain of India’s U-19 team during last year's four-day matches against Australia. He emerged as the highest run-scorer in the Vijay Merchant Trophy 2022/23 edition, accumulating 87 runs in two innings.

Anmoljeet Singh, who looks up to Harbhajan, also participated in the four-day matches against Australia last year, achieving an impressive nine-wicket match haul (4-72 and 5-32), leading India to a commanding innings and 120-run victory with a day to spare in the second Youth Test. He was the top wicket-taker in the Vijay Merchant Trophy 2022/23, securing 11 wickets across two innings.

"The Punjab Cricket Association has consistently supported the interests of India and the BCCI and will continue to do so. The youth from Punjab are making remarkable contributions to Indian cricket, with numerous strong candidates emerging for the national team; this credit belongs to the PCA, and I take pride in being part of it," he added.

On Tuesday, the BCCI revealed the schedule for the IPL 2025 Playoffs, with the PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh preparing to host the highly anticipated Qualifier 1, featuring the top two-ranked teams on May 29, followed by an Eliminator showdown on May 30.

Harbhajan also conveyed his appreciation to the BCCI for allowing Punjab to host two IPL playoff matches, stating, "I extend my gratitude to the BCCI for granting Punjab the chance to host these two IPL playoff matches. This news is fantastic for the people of Punjab."

Sources indicate that Harbhajan played a pivotal role in securing the playoff games for Mullanpur, persuading the top officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding the stadium's suitability for hosting matches under current weather conditions.