Bengal’s Rising Star Rohit Yadav Targets IPL After Leading India U19 to Series Win in Sri Lanka | Exclusive

Rohit Yadav emerged as one of India’s standout performers in the second Youth Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, playing a decisive role in the visitors’ emphatic 211-run victory and helping them seal the two-match series 1-0.

The leg-spinner claimed four wickets in Sri Lanka’s second innings, finishing with figures of 4/61, as the hosts were bowled out for 260 while chasing a daunting 472-run target. Rohit’s spell broke Sri Lanka’s resistance after the lower order threatened to prolong the contest, with his variations and control proving difficult to handle.

Rohit’s cricketing journey began far from his home. At just 11 years old, he moved from his hometown of Varanasi to Kolkata after his parents entrusted him to the care of his elder sister, who lives in Liluah, Howrah.

He honed his skills at the Laxmi Ratan Shukla Cricket Academy at the Ichapur area in Howrah, under the guidance of the former India all-rounder and current Bengal head coach. Training alongside several established Bengal cricketers, Rohit has continued to refine his game, benefiting from the experience and mentorship available within the state’s cricketing setup.

The teenager made his debut across formats for Bengal last season, and the first match for India U19 has been an eventful one for him as he ended with 6 wickets against Sri Lanka. And after his heroics, Rohit spoke exclusively with MyKhel, depicting the emotion and the road ahead.

Wearing the India colours for the first time, Rohit admits it was a special feeling indeed despite the butterflies in the stomach.

“It was a great feeling to represent India. I could only pick two wickets in the first innings, but the second innings was perfect for me. I found the rhythm and got four wickets. The team won, which makes it even more special.

“I was nervous. It was the first time I was wearing the India jersey. I’ve always dreamed of playing for India, so there were a lot of emotions. My only focus was to do well for the team and make the opportunity count.”

The 18-year-old has a dream he is carrying, which is to play in the IPL in the next two years. With many IPL teams already keeping tabs on Rohit, the Bengal prodigy wants to make it count and take the next step, which will be playing at the biggest franchise leagues.

The upcoming season with Bengal will be crucial in his development, but Rohit may well be busy with India U19 duties in the U19 Asia Cup in October. Along with that, he is expected to join a few IPL team trials as well, with two trials imminent.