Rising Star Pranav Raghuvendra Joins India's Under-19 Squad for England Tour
Focus on Fast Bowling and Batting Talent
The Indian cricket team is honing its skills in fast bowling and batting. Following the IPL, several emerging talents have demonstrated their abilities as both batters and bowlers. Fast bowlers such as Mayank Aggarwal and Umran Malik have caught the attention of cricket authorities with their impressive speed. Now, India is set to welcome another young speedster, 17-year-old R.D. Pranav Raghuvendra, who has been selected for the Under-19 tour of England. Pranav showcased his talent at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence, clocking an impressive speed of 147.3 km/h. The BCCI has decided to include him in the squad for the upcoming tour scheduled from June 24 to July 23.
Pranav's Ambition and Potential
“I love pace and I want to bowl fast. It feels great to scare batsmen with bouncers and hit them on the gloves with hard lengths. To keep doing that, I need to work on several aspects including accuracy, which is why I don’t keep an eye on the speed gun.” Pranav shared in an interview.
Keep your eyes on Pranav Ragavendra, the Under-19 player. He's clocked a blistering 147.3 kmph at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, the fastest by any Indian Under-19 player. A year prior, at just 16, he was already hitting 139 kmph during MRF foundation camp. pic.twitter.com/OxaO1kKaWD
— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952) June 10, 2025
Can Pranav Follow in the Footsteps of Malik and Yadav?
With his selection in the Indian Under-19 team for the England tour, Pranav has the opportunity to make a significant impact. Bowlers who can reach speeds of 150 kilometers per hour are considered formidable at the international level. Currently, India has only a handful of bowlers capable of such speeds. While Umran Malik and Mayank Yadav have impressed with their pace, injuries have often sidelined them.
Pranav, being the youngest to reach this level, is expected to soon break the 150 km/h barrier. If he achieves this during the Under-19 tour in England, where the team will compete in two Tests and five ODIs starting June 27, it would not be surprising.
India's Squad for the England Tour
The squad includes: Ayush Mhatre (Captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Vihaan Malhotra, Rahul Kumar, Abhigyan Kundu (Vice-Captain & WK), Harvansh Singh (WK), R S Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan Patel, Henil Patel, Yudhajit Guha, Pranav Raghavendra, Mohammed Enaan, Aditya Rana, Anmoljeet Singh, Maulyarajsinh Chavda.
Standby Players: Naman Pushpak, D Deepesh, Vikalp Tiwari, Alankrith Rapole (WK), Vedant Trivedi.