Related Articles
The ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2024 continues with a Group A clash as India U-19 faces Japan U-19. Both teams are yet to register a win in the tournament, making this match a crucial opportunity for both sides to get off the mark. On paper, India U-19 looks vastly superior in terms of depth and experience, while Japan U-19, still developing in the cricketing world, faces an uphill task.
Teams Preview
India U19 Preview
After a narrow loss to Pakistan U-19 in their tournament opener, India U-19 will be determined to get back on track. Their batters showed promise, but the bowling attack lacked penetration in the middle overs. Against Japan, India has a golden opportunity to regain momentum and climb the points table.
Batting Lineup:
- Nikhil Kumar was a standout performer in the first game, scoring a composed 67 runs and anchoring the innings.
- Mohammed Enaan and Harvansh Singh Pangalia provided valuable contributions, showcasing the depth in India’s batting lineup.
Bowling Attack:
- Samarth Nagaraj was the pick of the bowlers in the opening match, taking three wickets and maintaining a tight economy.
- Ayush Mhatre and Yudhajit Guha bowled well in patches and will look to be more consistent against Japan.
Key Players: Nikhil Kumar, Samarth Nagaraj, Ayush Mhatre
Predicted Playing XI:
Ayush Mhatre, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, C Andre Siddarth, Mohd. Amaan (c), Pranav Pant, Harvansh Singh Pangalia, Anurag Kawde (wk), Md. Enaan, KP Karthikeya, Samarth Nagaraj, Yudhajit Guha
Japan U19 Preview
Japan U-19 had a disastrous start to the tournament, suffering a massive 273-run defeat to UAE U-19. Their bowling attack struggled to contain the opposition, and their batting lineup collapsed under pressure. Facing India U-19, Japan will need a monumental effort to stay competitive.
Batting Lineup:
- Nihar Parmar showed some resistance in the opening match, scoring 23 runs, but he lacked support from the other batters.
- Captain Koji Abe will need to lead from the front and provide stability at the top.
Bowling Attack:
- Kiefer Yamamoto-Lake was the only bright spot in Japan’s bowling lineup, claiming four wickets in his spell.
- Aarav Tiwari chipped in with two wickets, but the rest of the bowling attack was ineffective.
Key Players: Kiefer Yamamoto-Lake, Nihar Parmar, Koji Abe
Predicted Playing XI:
Aditya Phadke, Koji Abe (c), Kazuma Kato-Stafford, Nihar Parmar, Hugo Kelly, Charles Hinze, Timothy Moore, Kiefer Yamamoto-Lake, Aarav Tiwari, Daniel Panckhurst (wk), Kai Wall
Pitch and Weather Conditions
Pitch Report
The Sharjah Cricket Stadium provides a flat track ideal for batting, particularly in the early overs. However, as the game progresses, spinners are expected to dominate due to the dry nature of the surface. Seamers may struggle to extract much movement, making run-scoring easier initially.
Average First Innings Score: 216
Trend: Teams batting first have won all three matches in the tournament so far.
Weather Conditions
The weather will be warm and sunny, with temperatures ranging between 18°C and 27°C. Humidity levels will hover around 50%, and there is no chance of rain, ensuring a full game.
Toss Prediction: Teams are likely to bat first, given the advantage of setting a target and the pitch’s tendency to assist spinners later in the game.
Head-to-Head Record
- Total Matches: 1
- India U-19 Wins: 1
- Japan U-19 Wins: 0
In their only previous meeting, India U-19 bowled out Japan U-19 for just 41 runs and chased the target without losing a wicket.
Winning Prediction
India U-19 has a significant advantage in terms of talent, experience, and depth. While Japan U-19 will aim to put up a fight, the gulf in quality between the two sides is evident. India’s strong batting lineup and capable bowling attack make them overwhelming favorites to secure a comfortable win.
Prediction: India U-19 to win!
CricketPandith Match Prediction Package
Per Match Charges: 1000 Rs/Match
Monthly Package: 10000 Rs/Month (Unlimited Match)
All International/League Match Prediction Available
Download Our Cricket Pandith Android App
