As many as 5 India players from the U-19 squad tested positive for Covid-19 and missed the team’s 2nd World Cup match against Ireland on Wednesday, January 19. Captain Yash Dhull, vice-captain SK Rasheed are among the India U19 players who have tested positive for the virus and were forced into isolation in the West Indies.

India fielded a depleted XI for their match against Ireland at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad. They were led by left-handed batter Nishant Sindhu in their second Group B match.

Despite not having some of their key players, India managed to post a total in excess of 270 against Ireland on Wednesday. Angkrish Raghuvanshi hit a 79-ball 79 while Harnoor Singh hit 88, including 12 fours, during his 101-ball stay in the middle.

All teams at the U19 World Cup were allowed to travel with an enlarged squad of 17 players in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The 4-time champions did find it hard to put up an XI after missing some of their key players for Wednesday’s second Group B fixture.

Notably, India won their tournament opener against South Africa earlier this week by 45 runs to go to the top of the Group B standings. They will play Uganda in their final group-stage match on Saturday in Trinidad.

India will have time until January 26 to overcome the Covid-19 issues in the squad as the Super League quarter-finals get underway after a week’s time. India are in a strong position to quality for the knockout stages after having beaten South Africa in their Group B opener.

More to follow…