Why Deepesh Devendran is Not Playing Today in IND U19 vs NZ U19?

The Indian U19 Cricket Team are up against the New Zealand U19 Cricket Team in their third match of the U19 World Cup 2026. The game between the two teams is underway at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Saturday, January 24. Indian captain Ayush Mhatre won the toss and opted to field first. But he surprised many when he announced that his side had made two changes.

One was of Deepesh Devendran, who has been a star for India U19 with the ball in the last few months. Along with Deepesh Devendran, India also snubbed keeper-batter Harvansh Pangalia from the XI. The rest of the side remained the same as the Ayush Mhatre-led side eye their third win of the U19 Cricket World Cup 2026.

Why Deepesh Devendran is not Playing Today?

Deepesh Devendran, who was decent with the ball in the last two games, got benched, which caught many by surprise. Captain Ayush Mhatre at the toss didn’t say anything about why the pacer was benched, meaning that he has been either rested or dropped. “We will bowl first. There's some help in the wicket in the 1st innings, the conditions are overcast as well. That was a good break, we've had some quality sessions - two changes for us,” said Ayush Mhatre at the toss.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Enaan has added to the playing XI as Deepesh Devendran replacement. He will have a lot of prove, replacing the premier pacer in the side. This will be Enaan’s first game in the tournament, and he would be keen to take his team to win. India has been in a decedent form in the ongoing U19 Cricket World Cup 2026, having won both their games. In their opening game, they crushed Bangladesh by 18 runs and then followed it up with a 6-wicket win in their second game against the USA.

In both these games, Deepesh Devendran had a decent outing. Against Bangladesh, he returned with figures of 1/27 in four overs, and then against the USA, he bowled six overs and returned with figures of 1/19, showing all the skills to become one of the best bowler in India in the future. In his absence, India would want others to chip in and take them to glory. The Ayush Mhatre-led side is at the top of the Group B points table with four points under their belt.

IND U19 vs NZ U19 World Cup 2026: Playing XI of Both Teams

This match between India U19 and New Zealand U19 will be one of the thrilling games going forward in the rest of the World Cup. Here are the playing XI announced by both teams:

New Zealand U19 (Playing XI): Aryan Mann, Hugo Bogue, Tom Jones(c), Snehith Reddy, Marco Alpe(w), Jacob Cotter, Jaskaran Sandhu, Callum Samson, Flynn Morey, Selwin Sanjay, Mason Clarke

India U19 (Playing XI): Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Ayush Mhatre(c), Vedant Trivedi, Vihaan Malhotra, Abhigyan Kundu(w), Aaron George, Kanishk Chouhan, RS Ambrish, Khilan Patel, Henil Patel, Mohamed Enaan.