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ICC U19 World Cup: Unbeaten so far, India aim to win fourth title
Three-time champions India and Australia look to create history in the U-19 World Cup final
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Unstoppable so far, India would be aiming to rewrite record books with a fourth title when the Rahul Dravid-coached side squares off against an equally formidable Australia in the final of the ICC Under-19 World Cup, here on Saturday.
India and Australia are the two most successful teams in the history of the tournament having won the coveted trophy thrice each. But come Saturday, Dravid’s sprightly boys will be desperate to outwit their Australian counterparts and become the first team in the history of the event to lift the trophy for a record fourth time.
The promising Prithvi Shaw, already being seen as the next big thing in Indian cricket, will be eager to join the likes of Mohammad Kaif (2002), Virat Kohli (2008) and Unmukt Chand (2012) in leading the side to the U-19 World Cup title.
Going by current form, odds are heavily in favour of India. India has put in some impressive performances to win all its five matches– including an emphatic 203-run win over arch-rival Pakistan in the semifinal and a 100-run victory over Australia in the tournament-opener.
The massive win over Pakistan in the semifinal will do a world of good to India’s confidence. After putting a total of 272 on the board, it dismissed the opposition for a paltry 69. So far, it has been collective performance from Dravid’s boys as every member of the squad has contributed to the team’s success in one or the other way. India’s batting has been at its lethal best.
While the openers--Shaw and Manjot Kalra-have given the team good starts throughout the tournament, Shubman Gill has been in phenomenal form at the number three position.
In fact, all eyes will be on Gill, who has been the most consistent batsman of the tournament. He scored a scintillating unbeaten century against Pakistan in the semis and would be eager to script one more impactful knock.
In the bowling department, Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti have been phenomenal, raking up speeds in excess of 140 kmph at will. But they will have their work cut out against a strong Australian batting line-up.
Abhishek Sharma is another important player in the squad to look up to and he, along with fellow spinner Anukul Roy, would look to exploit the Australian batsmen’s weaknesses against spin. Besides his spin, Abhishek is also a hard-hitting lower middle-order batsman, who can score some quick runs. India’s fielding has also been exemplary in the tournament so far.
India U-19 teams have had a legacy of producing future Indian stars and this group of players has the potential to make it big. Australia, on the other hand, would be desperate for revenge after its big loss to the Indians in the tournament opener. After that one bad day in office, the Australians have bounced back strongly and won four games in a row to make it to the final.
The Jason Sangha-led side’s last two performances signal that it has upped its game when it has mattered. Australia’s 31-run win over England in the quarterfinal, while defending a 127-run total, and a six-wicket win over Afghanistan, which surprised everyone with its semifinal appearance, clearly indicate that it is here to give India a tough fight in the final.
Pacers give India an edge against Australia, says Prithvi Shaw
India Under-19 cricket captain Prithvi Shaw believes the terrific form of his fast bowlers will give the three-time champion an edge when it takes on Australia in pursuit of a record fourth ICC World Cup title, here on Saturday. The Rahul Dravid-coached boys would be aiming to rewrite record books with a fourth title when it squares off against an equally formidable Australia in the final.
“Whenever the team’s needed them, they (fast bowlers) have provided the breakthroughs. They’re ready whenever I ask them to bowl. They’ve good intensity as well, their fitness is great as well,” Shaw said on the eve of the big match.
“All of them -- Kamlesh (Nagarkoti), (Ishan) Porel, (Shivam) Mavi. It helps us all to have a good attitude in the field, we’re all really pumped up when our fast bowlers do well,” he added.
Shaw, however, was not bothered by the fact that the Indian batting line-up has not been tested enough, with the openers getting solid starts in all but one of five matches, including two century partnerships.
To add to its strength, number three batsman Shubman Gill has been in scintillating form, aggregating 341 runs at an average of 170.50, including one innings as opener.
“I have confidence that even if we get one partnership, we can take charge of the match and take the score to 250-300,” added the captain.
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