U-19 World Cup heartbreak spurred me: Yashveer Goud

When 18-year-old left-arm spinner Yashveer Goud did not make the Indian side that lifted the U-19 World Cup in February this year, it felt like his hopes had been crushed. Still, four months after that setback, another chance came his way.

The leftarm spinner has been included in the Indian U-19 ODI squad that will tour Sri Lanka on July 4.Meanwhile, another city cricketer V Pratiksha has been selected to the Indian women’s U-19 ODI squad that will tour Sri Lanka.Yashveer is thrilled to have been picked. “Yes, I was very disappointed when I was not picked for the U-19 World Cup team earlier this year. It took some time to get out of it. But I realised that I needed to work harder and I did that.

Now I got selected for this tour and it is like a dream. I don’t have words to describe the feeling. My parents – mother Vani and father Rajkumar – are my biggest support and they are very happy,” said the youngster.

Currently a second-year B.Com student at Bhavan’s Vivekananda Degree College, Sainikpuri, he is aiming to represent India at senior level one day. However, due to the tour, he will be forced to miss the first edition of TG20.

He has been named in the Hyderabad E-Champions squad.Yashveer, who previously played gully cricket on the streets of Amberpet, started his formal cricket journey at the age of eight at Daniel’s Cricket Academy. After spending six years training there under coach Kamlesh, he later moved to Bhavan’s College and began working with Krishna Mohan.After earning a place in the State U-16 team via open trials, his progress gathered pace quickly. He also made an important contribution to Hyderabad’s first title win in the BCCI Junior men’s U-19 Vinoo Mankad trophy. The useful lefthand batter, who looks up to Rishabh Pant and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, is keen to take full advantage of this opportunity.