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Pakistan U-19 national cricket team instantly took the driving seat against the India U-19 team in the Asia Cup match today (November 8) in Doha by taking four back-to-back wickets. India was reduced to 42 for 4 at a stage in the first innings when Arjun Rajput, not among the much-discussed young guns, took the crease and stunned the Pakistan cricket team.
Arjun completed his century off only 80 balls to demonstrate one of the sensational fightbacks in U-19 Asia Cup history. Who is Arjun Rajput, who lit up the stage with his classy but fiery innings at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground?
Who is Arjun Rajput?
Arjun Rajput, hailing from Jalandhar, Punjab, caught attention in various domestic tournaments and local leagues before joining the junior national team call-up. As he is a left-handed batter and agreesive batting style, cricket experts often compares him with the Indian cricket legend Yuvraj Singh.
In the match against Pakistan, Rajput explored every corner of the ground to display his range of shots. He has used both of his feet to counter the spinners and pacers. When he was much younger, Arjun showed his brilliance for Punjab's age division team during the Vijay Merchant Trophy 2022-23 season.
Arjun Rajpur led Punjab U-16 to win the Vijay Merchant Trophy
In the final of the Vijay Merchant Trophy, Arjun Rajput registered a half-century for Punjab Under-16 against Madhya Pradesh Under-16 in the tournament decider. In the first innings of the final, coming to bat as the team's No.3 batter, he faced 104 balls and scored 52 runs with eight 4s. Meanwhile, he was the skipper of the team. Punjab Under-16 defeated Madhya Pradesh in the summit clash by 10 wickets and claimed the trophy.
As he grew up, the southpaw, who is also recognized as a right-arm off-spinner, expanded his wings around other cricket tournaments as well. In the U-19 age-group circuit, Arjun Rajput shone in both the Cooch Behar and Veenu Mankad Trophies.
Blistering 46-ball 78 against Mohali in Sher-E-Punjab T20 Cup
His all-round abilities caught the selectors’ eye. His transition continued to follow a seamless path when he entered the Sher-E-Punjab T20 Cup, where he played a few explosive knocks for Ludhiana Lions. Arjun's 46-ball 78 against Mohali was one of his best batting performances in the tournament. Before shining for the India Under-19 national side against the arch-rivals Pakistan, the Punjab-born proved himself as an all-rounder against the Sri Lanka Under-19 and Australia Under-19 teams.
Against Sri Lanka on July 6 this year in Hambantota, he played a 76-run knock off 81 balls with nine 4s and one 6. After Anvay Dravid, he was the second-highest run-scorer of the match. Against Australia U-19, he took one wicket in Rajkot on September 18 before bagging 3 wickets for 8 wickets against Nepal in the ongoing U-19 Asian Cup in Doha.
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