Opener Lakshya Raichandani crafted a breathtaking unbeaten 210 off 256 balls to propel India Under-19 to a dominant 430 for 8 at stumps on Day 2 of the first Youth Test against Australia Under-19 at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on 28 September. In reply to Australia U19's first-innings total of 217, India U19 have carved out a commanding 213-run lead, with Raichandani's marathon knock featuring 20 boundaries and four sixes at the heart of the innings.

Raichandani's Double-Century Masterclass

Raichandani, who has been in rich white-ball form, translated that confidence seamlessly into red-ball cricket, demonstrating both technique and temperament over the course of his innings. He brought up his double-century with a boundary towards the closing stages of the day — a moment that drew a standing ovation at the ground. The Australian Under-19 attack was forced to rotate seven bowling options in an effort to dislodge him, but none could find an answer.

He found an ideal late-innings ally in Mohit Ulva, the local Rajkot lad who came in and immediately put the tired visitors to the sword. Ulva raced to an unbeaten 58 off just 56 deliveries, cracking five boundaries and four sixes, adding an unbroken 137-run ninth-wicket stand with Raichandani that effectively ended any Australian hopes of keeping the deficit manageable.

Early Wobbles and the Crucial Third-Wicket Stand

India U19 resumed Day 2 at 8 for no loss but encountered early trouble as Sagar Virk and Kushagra Ojha fell cheaply on a surface that gradually eased out. It was skipper Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan who steadied the ship alongside Raichandani, stitching a crucial 124-run third-wicket partnership. Chauhan showed initial patience before accelerating to score 54 off 81 balls, hitting seven boundaries, before Kasey Barton broke the stand.

While Raichandani had already raced to his half-century in 69 balls, setting the tone, Chauhan's composed knock provided the ideal foil. Notably, both batters appeared set for centuries when the partnership was broken — a what-might-have-been that underscores how well-set the India innings was at its peak.

Australia's Fightback Cut Short

Connor Gregory and Green momentarily clawed Australia back into contention, tightening the screws in the middle session. Gregory removed Ayaan Akram — who had come into the side as a replacement for injured Pranav Ragavendra, adding 51 runs for the seventh wicket with Raichandani — and then quickly dismissed Ishan Om as well, shifting momentum briefly. Barton finished with 3 for 65 and Gregory with 2 for 87. However, the Raichandani-Ulva counterattack in the final session extinguished any lingering Australian optimism.

What Happens Next

With a 213-run first-innings lead and two wickets still in hand, India U19 are well-placed to extend their total further on Day 3 before bowling at Australia U19 with a substantial cushion. The pitch, which eased on Day 2, may offer something for spinners as the match progresses. This is the opening match of the Youth Test series and India have placed themselves firmly in the driver's seat.

Brief scores: Australia Under-19 217 all out in 86.5 overs trail India Under-19 430 for 8 in 92 overs (Lakshya Raichandani 210 not out, Mohit Ulva 58 not out; Kasey Barton 3-65, Connor Gregory 2-87) by 213 runs.