STYLISH 19-year-old Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), Demerara, Guyana and West Indies U-19 right-handed batter Mavindra Dindyal is aiming to make his mark for the 2024 ICC U-19 World Cup.

Dindyal, along with Berbice fast bowler Isaiah Thorne, are the two Guyanese selected in the West Indies team for the tournament, which is scheduled to commence later this month in South Africa.
The pair is scheduled to depart Guyana today for South Africa.

The dashing stroke player Dindiyal, who was among seven players from the GCC to play in last year’s regional U-19 tournament, moved to that club when he became a teen.

Cricketing history and profile
After representing the West Indies at the U-15s on the tour to England in 2019, Dindyal, who has yet to play first-class cricket, represented the regional U-19 side in a Youth Test and two U-19 ODIs in Sri Lanka and is now set for his World Cup debut in South Africa.

“My goal is to be simple and be myself. I expect it to be a very good tournament, and I just want to go out there and execute, not pressure myself.
“I hope to play a key role for my team in any department. Whether it be batting, bowling, or fielding, I will give 100% in the games that I play in. I just want to make good use of any opportunity given to me,” said Dindyal who prefers Test and ODI cricket to the T20 format.

Apart from playing cricket in most Caribbean countries, he has also had stints in Canada, England and the USA.
Dindyal said that despite the cold climate and regular, overcast days, England is his favourite place he has played due to the success he has had playing cricket in that part of the world.

In 2019, during the West Indies U-15s tour to England, Dindyal and Jamaican Jordan Johnson showed the potential to go on to bigger things.
Dindyal, who scored 21&22 in two U-19 ODIs, made a brilliant 138 in 2022 in the final match of the regional U-19 tournament against Jamaica.

“My first 100 was very memorable and it felt amazing. I am glad I could make my family proud.
“Virat Kholi is my favourite batter because of his ability to perform under pressure, adjust to different conditions and his excellent shot selections.”
Dindyal also bowls useful off-spin and his highest score is an unbeaten 206.

Family and School life
He was born on October 10, 2004, in Georgetown and is one of two children born to Gopaul and Jasmine Dindyal.
Young Dindyal, who has a sister, attended the Diamond Secondary School and informed Chronicle Sport that all he did was focus on school and cricket while growing up.

“Yes! Cricket was played at Diamond Secondary and I was part of the team that won the first title for that school. I’ve written CXC and passed with eight subjects with two grade 1s, five grade 2s and one grade 3. From an early age my dad took me to training and ever since I’ve loved the sport,” disclosed the youngster who, like former Test batter Vishaul Singh and current opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul, began his career at the age of six at the Gandhi Youth Organization (GYO) in Woolford Avenue.

Training for South Africa
Dindyal’s dad, who played for GYO when he was much younger, is Dindyal’s biggest coach.
His dad is often seen doing ‘throw downs’ to Dindyal at the practice nets at the Providence Stadium or his club ground Bourda in the afternoons where he ‘pelts’ head-high full tosses to his son to prepare him to hook on what is expected to be bouncy tracks in South Africa.

“My dad is one of my biggest coaches and motivators, but I am grateful to all the coaches who have made me a better player.
“I appreciate the work everyone has put in with me; they know themselves,” added Dindyal, whose favourite shot is the cover drive

West Indies’ only title was achieved in 2016 under Guyanese Shimron Hetmyer as West Indies were crowned champions in every World Cup for the year (Men’s, Women’s & U-19 Boys)
The semi-finals are slated for February 6 and 8, with the final set for February 11 and West Indies will hope to dethrone defending champions, India.