NAGPUR: Vidarbha's Sanyog Bhagwat made the cut for Under-19 India 'A' team for the upcoming quadrangular series to be played at Vijayawada from November 13-17. The series will have Under-19 teams from England and Bangladesh apart from an India 'B' squad.
The left-arm medium pacer should use the series as a stepping stone to get into the Indian team for the Asia Cup and Under-19 World Cup, coaches who have been training him since childhood said. They said that after a string of good showings put up by Bhagwat, the pacer's selection in the India Under-19 team wasn't a surprise.
Thanks to his performances, Bhagwat was always on the radar of the national junior selection committee. He featured in various BCCI selection camps prior to getting the selectors' nod.
Bhagwat's performance in the Ahmedabad camp, where he picked up a five-for, played a big role in impressing the selectors.
Bhagwat, who started his cricketing journey with Reshimbagh Gymkhana, later shifted to City Gymkhana. He was part of the Vidarbha team that emerged champion in the Cooch Behar Trophy last year.
Though Bhagwat possesses the ability to move the ball both ways, his inswinging deliveries trouble the batters most, coaches said.
The selection in the India Under-19 team is perfect reward for the hard work put in by Bhagwat over the years, they said.
"He can swing the ball both ways. However, conditions at Vijayawada won't be conducive for swing bowling. It is a venue known for being a batters' paradise. So, I have advised him to mainly focus on maintaining good line and length. Getting over aggressive in search of wickets on non-responsive pitches can lead to high economy rates," said a coach who has seen Bhagwat from his early days.
Another Vidarbha pacer, Pratham Maheshwari, was also among the India Under-19 probables. He too was picked for different junior national camps. However, Maheshwari was unlucky to miss the bus.
