Photo via Sportstar

The focus on developing red-ball skills, says India U-19 coach Yere Goud

India’s Under-19 cricket team secured a comprehensive series sweep over Australia’s youth side, closing out a 2-0 victory in the four-day Tests and a 3-0 win in the one-day series. The triumphs, achieved in Ahmedabad and Rajkot, underscore a deliberate shift in focus toward developing red-ball cricket skills among the young players.

Head coach Yere Goud emphasized the sustained effort to refine Test-match and four-day formats, citing structured camps at the Centre of Excellence as a cornerstone of the program. The squad’s rigorous preparation included a prior tour of Sri Lanka in July, where they played three ODIs and two multi-day Tests, followed by the recent series against Australia in September and October.

Goud highlighted the importance of mental conditioning, with a dedicated coach working closely with players over a month to strengthen emotional resilience and decision-making under pressure. The coach also noted the grueling journey many players endure to reach the national stage, from district to state to international representation, and underscored the team’s ongoing support even between series to monitor progress and address skill development needs.

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