Fourteen years after Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag last played together for India, similar surnames are set to appear on the same team sheet again. This time, however, it will be their sons carrying those familiar surnames.
Aaryavir Sehwag, Virender Sehwag’s elder son, and Anvay Dravid, Rahul Dravid’s younger son, have both been named in India’s Under-19 squad for the upcoming series against Australia.
The BCCI selection committee has picked the two teenagers for the three-match Under-19 ODI series, which will be played in Rajkot. The two were not included in the separate squad selected for the multi-day fixtures.
The coincidence is hard to miss. Dravid and Sehwag last played together for India in 2012, during the Adelaide Test against Australia. Dravid retired from international cricket three months later, while Sehwag continued until 2015.
More than a decade later, their sons will begin their own journey in an India-Australia contest, although at Under-19 level.
For 18-year-old Aaryavir, the selection represents his first India Under-19 call-up. The opening batter is currently playing in the Delhi Premier League and has been working his way through the domestic age-group system.
Anvay, meanwhile, has retained his place after being part of India’s Under-19 tour of Sri Lanka last month. The 17-year-old wicketkeeper-batter featured in two youth ODIs and made a significant contribution in the second game, scoring 87 after making 14 in the opener.
The selections inevitably bring attention to the cricketing backgrounds of both players, but their careers are only beginning and the expectations attached to their surnames will be an additional challenge.
For Aaryavir, the Australia series provides his first opportunity to wear India colours at Under-19 level. Anvay already has some experience of international youth cricket and will now look to build on his Sri Lanka performances.
There is also a neat symmetry in the opposition. Dravid and Sehwag’s final appearance together came against Australia, and their sons will now begin a new chapter of the family story in another India-Australia series.
Whether either player eventually reaches the senior Indian team remains a question for the future. For now, though, two famous Indian cricketing surnames are back together on an India team sheet.
