India defeated England to win U19 WC in style. In India’s historic triumph, two players were from our very own Tamil Nadu. Prolific all- rounder RS Ambrish and fast bowling sensation Deepesh Devendran were vital clog of that champion Indian team. Tamil Nadu which has produced some world class players like K Srikanth, Murali Vijay, R Ashwin, Dinesh Karthik, L. Balaji, Washington Sundar, T. Natarajan have once again found gems in the form of Ambrish and Deepesh. Who are these two players? Come let’s find out!
All Rounder sensation RS Ambrish
A dynamic all-rounder whose rise reflects talent honed over years of dedicated nurture, RS Ambrish represents a new generation of Indian cricketers balancing power, finesse and cricketing intelligence all while carrying forward a deeply personal dream that began with his father. Born into a cricketing family, Ambrish’s earliest memories are framed by the rhythm of bat on ball. His father R.Sukumar, a former cricketer himself and who is an employee of ICF introduced him to the game at a young age, igniting a passion that would define his adolescence. Walking the boundary ropes with his father, moving from local nets to formal coaching, and enduring the grind of age-group cricket, Ambrish’s journey has been steady rather than meteoric.
Rise to the top
Standing out for his hard-hitting batting and versatile medium-pace bowling, Ambrish fits the modern mould of a multi-dimensional player. Comparisons have been drawn in media circles to senior India all-rounder Hardik Pandya, not merely for his aggressive strokeplay but also for his willingness to take the game on. Yet those who have coached him caution against reductive labels: “He respects his own style,” one mentor noted, “but you can’t ignore the way he influences momentum with both bat and ball.”
The language of Cricket
Ambrish’s path to the national U-19 side was reinforced by standout performances in age-group competitions and youth leagues, where his all-around contributions often turned matches in India’s favour. “Cricket was always the language we spoke at home,” Ambrish once reflected in an interview, “but it was about love for the game, not pressure.” Blessed with pace, rhythm and an ability to extract movement off the surface, he is widely regarded by coaches and selectors as one of the most promising speed prospects to have emerged in recent years from India’s youth system. He plays for Lyca Kovai Kings in TNPL.
Pace battery Deepesh Devendran
Deepsh Devendran first made headlines with his performance in the Youth Test against Australia U-19, where he claimed a remarkable five-wicket haul — a feat that not only underlined his wicket-taking instincts but also showcased his temperament under pressure. Against a batting unit traditionally tough to dismiss, he utilised late swing and disciplined lengths to systematically unsettle the opposition, a display that earned plaudits from pundits and scouts alike.
USP of Deepesh
What sets Devendran apart is not merely his ability to bowl over 135 kph but the intelligence with which he constructs an over. His understanding of when to target the stumps, when to hit the deck hard, and when to whisper the ball through the air reflects a maturity beyond his years. In an era where raw speed often grabs headlines, his nuanced approach to seam, bounce and rhythm positions him as a bowler capable of adapting to diverse conditions.
U19 World Cup Contribution
RS Ambrish starred in U19 WC picking up 11 wickets form 7 matches which included a match defining spell in the final. With the limited opportunities he got with the bat, he slammed 73 runs in the WC Campaign. Deepesh was a vital clog of Indian bowling attack scalping 6 wickets from 5 matches.
Recognisations
The two players were given a cash award of Rs 5 lakh each in the presence of the TNCA office bearers. Further, Udhayanidhi Stalin said that triumphant performances by these two youth cricketers from Tamil Nadu in international competitions filled the State with pride and underscored the strength of its sporting ecosystem. He reaffirmed that the Dravidian model of governance will continue to support young talent across all disciplines, promising that the government would stand behind its emerging athletes as they chase global success.
