U-19 World Cup final: India chase record sixth title against Australia

U-19 World Cup final: India chase record sixth title against Australia

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Feb 12, 2024 - 11:58
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U-19 World Cup final: India chase record sixth title against Australia
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For many youngsters that will take the field in Benoni on South Africa, the U-19 World Cup final will be a launchpad to bigger and brighter things. Few faces will become household names and gain prominence in the years to come while some will fade into oblivion. As is the brutality of sport, a good or bad day can make or break careers but the youngsters from India and Australia will leave no stone unturned in making a mark.

India, captained by Uday Saharan, will chase their record sixth U-19 World Cup title in ninth final appearance against Australia who are the second-most successful team in the age format with three trophies.

Saharan categorically said their focus is on their game and their competition and not in exacting revenge for the seniors’ loss in the ODI World Cup final in November.

Read | A look at India’s five titles and eight final appearances

India U-19 had beaten Australia in the 2012 and 2018 finals, and will again start favourites. The country’s dominance in age-group tournaments is staggering and a foray into the ninth final is a testimony of that. From 2016, India U-19s have played all the finals, winning the 2018 and 2022 editions while losing in 2016 and 2020.

Since Virat Kohli-led India won the 2008 edition, U-19 World Cups have gained traction built on the curiosity value of the talent and has been met with live TV coverage and streaming. It has produced stars like Yuvraj Singh, Mohammed Kaif, Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal to name a few.

U19 World Cup: India’s top performers at the tournament

For the India U-19 side that failed to make the Asia Cup final, all the pieces have come together at the World Cup. Led by Saharan, who is leading the batting charts with 389 runs, the team’s performance has improved with every match. The only time they’ve been pushed was in the semi-final against South Africa where the team saw a slender two-wicket win.

With the focus of the tournament on building and unearthing stars of the future, three from India stand out. In the batting department is the skipper Saharan himself and the other is Sachin Dhas of Maharashtra, who has flourished as a finisher. In the bowling department is left-arm spinner Saumy Pandey, who has so far taken 17 wickets.

U-19 World Cup: Looking at India’s unbeaten journey to fifth straight final

Over on the other side, the Aussies have a quartet which could spell trouble for India in the form of Hugh Weibgen, opener Harry Dixon, seamers Tom Straker and Callum Vidler.

Teams:

India: Uday Saharan (C), Arshin Kulkarni, Adarsh Singh, Rudra Mayur Patel, Sachin Dhas, Priyanshu Moliya, Musheer Khan, Aravelly Avanish Rao (WK), Saumy Kumar Pandey (VC), Murugan Abhishek, Innesh Mahajan (WK), Dhanush Gowda, Aaradhya Shukla, Raj Limbani, Naman Tiwari.

Australia: Hugh Weibgen (C), Lachlan Aitken, Charlie Anderson, Harkirat Bajwa, Mahli Beardman, Tom Campbell, Harry Dixon, Ryan Hicks (wk), Sam Konstas, Rafael MacMillan, Aidan O’Connor, Harjas Singh, Tom Straker, Callum Vidler, Ollie Peake.

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