Heartening to see Washington Sundar's transition from U-19 to India: Rahul Dravid

Mumbai: The 2018 edition of the ICC U-19 World Cup presents an opportunity to the youngest of players to iron out their flaws on the biggest of platforms. Such has been the importance that young players have even managed to break into the senior teams.

The likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav are few names to have graced the tournament in the past and a new name to pop into that list has been off-spinner Washington Sundar who recently earned his national ODI and T20 call-up during Sri Lanka’s tour of India.

Rahul Dravid, coach of the Indian U-19 team heaped praise on the BCCI selectors for their vision of trusting young players.

“We remind them the purpose of U-19 cricket. The previous players from the U19 teams have gone on to do wonders for India. Some have not been able to do much who might know what they in the future.

“Yes, I think we have not just shown them in words but also in actions. All we have to do is guide them to the teams in the past and they know what is right.

"Seeing what someone like Washington has done from the last U19 and into the Indian team is really heartening from our perspective and credit to BCCI,” he said during a press conference here on Wednesday.

What the future has in store for Prithvi Shaw’s India side is yet undecided, but the former India skipper has backed his boys to keep striving for the best. “There is a pressure of expectations but I think it's a great opportunity for them to learn and grow as cricketers.

“There will always be an odd special case, who comes out of the blue and does exceptionally well in the U-19 cricket. There's an opportunity in the Indian team and he is given that opportunity.

"I keep telling these boys if not the Indian team, I’d love to see them in the India A side,” he signed off.

The 16-member Indian camp will leave the country on Wednesday night for New Zealand, with the tournament set to commence on January 13.