City spinner gears up for U-19 World Cup

Anmoljeet Singh, a promising young cricketer from Shimlapuri, Ludhiana, is aiming to make his mark in the under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, scheduled to be held in Zimbabwe in 2026.

A 19-year-old spinner, Anmoljeet is currently undergoing intensive training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) camp in Nadiad, Gujarat, which is being organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Anmoljeet, son of a local businessman, shared his journey while speaking to The Tribune over the phone from the camp. He began playing cricket at the age of seven, inspired and encouraged by his father, a former cricketer himself. “My father has been my biggest supporter. He introduced me to cricket and has always motivated me to dream big,” said Anmoljeet.

A former student of BCM School, Dugri till the 8th standard, Anmoljeet is now pursuing his education at GTB School, Shimlapuri. He has already built a strong foundation in cricket, having received training from the Ludhiana District Cricket Academy (LDCA). His early talent was evident when he earned multiple awards at school and district-level tournaments.

Anmoljeet’s cricketing credentials include being part of the Punjab Cricket Team in the under-16 category during the 2022–2023 season, where he played in the Vijay Merchant Trophy held in Hyderabad. “I became the highest wicket-taking bowler in the tournament with 65 wickets and was honoured by the BCCI in a special function,” he proudly shared.

His success continued as he moved up to the Punjab under-19 team, playing national-level matches across the country and taking 26 wickets during the tournament. Following his strong performances, he was selected for an NCA camp in Rajkot in 2023, where he trained under international coaches. His hard work paid off when he was chosen for the under-19 Indian Cricket Team and played a match against Australia in Chennai, where he was declared Man of the Match.

Currently training at the national camp in Gujarat, Anmoljeet is gearing up for the inter-camp matches set to begin after April 29. These matches will determine the final selection for the Indian squad heading to Zimbabwe in 2026.

Anmoljeet draws inspiration from former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh. “Harbhajan Singh is my role model. I once had the opportunity to speak with him and he shared some valuable bowling tips. He advised me to maintain a never-give-up attitude and I’ve held on to that ever since,” Anmoljeet said with determination.

He also credits Grewal Sports Academy in Ludhiana for playing a crucial role in shaping his cricketing career. “The academy has been instrumental in my growth and success,” he added.

Ludhiana