WV Raman, the former India opener will travel to England with the India Under 19 team for the Under 19 junior ODI and Test series in the absence of Rahul Dravid, a report in The Indian Express suggests.

Dravid, who was recently given an extension as the coach of India A and U-19 team will be travelling to South Africa with the A team for tri-series and two unofficial Test matches. Hence, he won’t be there with the junior side and in his absence, Raman will guide the junior players. He is currently the batting coach in National Cricket Academy and is one of the strongest contenders who will go to England in Dravid’s absence,

“He knows all these boys and has been working in the NCA with them. Raman is the right candidate for the task and anyways he is in regular touch with Dravid. It is also understood that Dravid has told board officials that the Under-19 in-charge will have to update him about the performances of the boys on a regular basis. Raman has been working with the NCA since December 2015,” a BCCI official informed The Indian Express.

India tour of England starts from July 23 with the first Junior Test match to be played at Queen’s Park in Chesterfield. The second Test kicks off from July 3. A five-match Youth ODI series will follow the day’s game. Prithvi Shaw and Himanshu Rana will lead India in ODIs and Tests respectively. (Read Here: Rahul Dravid To Continue As Coach Of India, Under-19 For Next Two Years)

Abhay Sharma, the former India fielding coach will also travel with the team to England.

On the other hand, India A will tour South Africa for a tri-series follow by two unofficial Test matches. Manish Pandey and Karun Nair have been appointed as skipper for the tour.

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