Tamil Nadu's Andre Siddarth receives maiden India U-19 Asia Cup call-up

CHENNAI: It has been an exceptional couple of months for Tamil Nadu’s C Andre Siddarth. Since receiving his maiden call-up to the state team earlier this year, the middle-order batter has consistently delivered, scoring four consecutive half-centuries in his last four innings.

The 18-year-old earned his maiden call-up to the India U-19 squad, with the BCCI announcing the team for the ACC Men’s U-19 Asia Cup 2024 in Dubai. India is set to begin its campaign on November 30 against Pakistan.

On Thursday, Siddarth also scored 78 runs and shared a healthy partnership with Pradosh Ranjan Paul to help Tamil Nadu take a 95-run lead at the end of day two in their ongoing Group D Elite Ranji match against Railways.

Earlier in November, the 6’3” batter came close to scoring his maiden First-Class century in Guwahati against Assam but fell short by just six runs. He currently has 294 runs at an average of 98 from five First-Class innings.

Before the Ranji season started, Siddarth was part of the four-time Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) champion Chepauk Super Gillies squad. Other TN players in the list includes 16-year-old Pranav Ragavendra and D Dipesh in the non-travelling reserves.

India U19 Squad: Ayush Mhatre, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Andre Siddarth, Mohd. Amaan (C), Kiran Chormale (VC), Pranav Pant, Harvansh Singh Pangalia (WK), Anurag Kawde (WK), Hardik Raj, Md. Enaan, KP Karthikeya, Samarth Nagaraj, Yudhajit Guha, Chetan Sharma, Nikhil Kumar

Non-travelling Reserves: Sahil Parakh, Naman Pushpak, Anmoljeet Singh, Pranav Raghavendra, D Dipesh