Rahul Dravid's son Samit Dravid's international dream shut down even before starting

Samit Dravid, son of legendary India batter and former India head coach Rahul Dravid, is expected to miss the upcoming four-day matches against Australia Under-19s. Samit Dravid had already been ruled out of the recent three-match one-day series against Australia Under-19s due to a knee injury.

Fans had high expectations to see Samit play for India. He was selected for both the white-ball and red-ball squads of India Under-19s for the series against Australia Under-19s. However, he missed the one-day series and is currently recovering at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.

Samit Dravid To Miss Four-Day Match Against Australia - Hrishikesh Kanitkar

India Under-19s coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar is uncertain about Samit Dravid's recovery timeline from a knee injury. He mentioned that Dravid is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy and is unlikely to be fit for the upcoming four-day matches against Australia Under-19s.

"As of now, he's at the NCA, recovering from his knee injury. So, [I] don't know yet. It looks unlikely," Kanitkar said of Dravid on the eve of India Under-19s first four-dayer against Australia Under-19s at Chepauk.

The young all-rounder earned his first call-up to the India Under-19s squad after impressive performances in the Maharaja T20 trophy for Mysuru Warriors. He played a key role in Karnataka's victory in the Cooch Behar Trophy. However, he will not be eligible to play in the 2026 Under-19 World Cup.

Samit Dravid, now 18 years old, will not be eligible for the Under-19 World Cup due to ICC regulations. According to these rules, players must be under 19 as of August 31, 2025. However, Samit will turn 19 on October 11, 2025, and won’t be able to participate in the prestigious youth cricket tournament.

It's A Great Initiative To Play Test Games - Hrishikesh Kanitkar

India's Under-19 team is set to play their first four-day Test match in over five years against Australia Under-19s at Chepauk. Hrishikesh Kanitkar is excited about the red-ball cricket experience, stating it will be a valuable opportunity for his players to face Australian talent.

"I think it's a great initiative to play Test games because red-ball [cricket] really tests you," Kanitkar said.

"There's enough time for the bowlers to plan and [make] strategies. So, for both batters and bowlers and even fielders, it's the ideal challenge to see where you stand. I think to be able to play against a foreign side is a great thing. I know a lot of people, including myself who played Under-19 cricket against foreign teams and it really helped us a lot. So, I think it's going to be magnificent for the players."

India Under-19s is coming into the four-day Test series against Australia Under-19s after a successful 3-0 win in the recent one-day series in Puducherry. Kanitkar was happy with the team's progress in one-day matches.

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