The spotlight turned to the next generation of Indian cricket as Rahul Dravid’s son, Samit Dravid, delivered a composed and impactful innings in the India Under-19 vs Sri Lanka Under-19 ODI in Hambantota on July 6. The knock came at a crucial stage, when India were under serious pressure after a top-order collapse.
India U19 opted to bat first, but the decision quickly backfired as the top four batters were dismissed before the team could cross 100 runs. With the innings in trouble, Samit Dravid walked in and helped stabilize the situation with a mature and controlled approach in the middle order.
He joined Arjun Rajput at a critical juncture, and together the duo rebuilt the innings with a crucial 145-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Their stand lifted India from 81/4 to a much healthier position of 226/5, shifting the momentum back in their favour. Rajput eventually fell after a well-made 76, but the foundation had already been firmly laid.
Samit Dravid’s innings stood out not just for its timing, but also for its intent. He brought up his maiden half-century in Under-19 ODI cricket off just 47 deliveries, striking four boundaries and a six. The innings marked a significant step forward in his early career, especially after a modest start to the tour where he managed only 14 runs in the previous match.
While it is still early in his journey, the knock drew attention for its calmness under pressure-traits long associated with his father, Rahul Dravid. The innings added depth to India’s total and reinforced his growing reputation as a dependable middle-order batter in the youth setup.