Eight finals and four trophies in 14 editions make India the most successful team in Under-19 World Cup history. And come Saturday, they look at the talent and depth of form on what is sure to be a record-extending fifth title, but standing in the way is a motivated English team, chasing their piece of history in a thrilling summit clash. promises to be
Yash Dull & Co will aim to add to India’s rich heritage when they take on England at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium here.
When skipper Dhul and his deputy Sheikh Rashid missed out on two of the three league games due to COVID-19, India made it to the final despite major setbacks off the field.
Dhul, who had the worst symptoms among the infected players, has displayed his high-class brilliance in the three innings he has played so far, including a sublime century in the semi-finals.
Rashid has also shown his talent with the bat and will definitely have to pay attention to it in the future.
Openers Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Harnoor Singh were extra cautious in their approach in the semi-final against Australia and both will need to change their approach for the summit clash.
India’s group of teenagers is part of their unexpected maturity. The way Dhul and Rashid batted after a poor start against Australia was a lesson in pace to the innings.
Only a few of the current lots are likely to graduate to the highest level in the coming years but in the short term, a special performance on Saturday afternoon could land them a life-changing IPL deal in the upcoming mega auction.
While the batsmen have performed individually, the bowling department has worked in unison.
Rajvardhan Hangargekar’s extra pace and left-armer Ravi Kumar’s swing have troubled the top-order batsmen, while the Vicky Ostwal-led spin attack has troubled the opposition in the middle overs. He is India’s leading wicket-taker with 12 scalps at 10.75.
Summing up the team’s confidence ahead of the final, Rashid said: “We are a very good team. We want to win the final.”
Under-19 stars are also getting to learn from the best.
Virat Kohli, who became world champion after captaining India Under-19s in 2008, talks about how to make the class of 2022 reach the high-pressure finals.
They face England, a team that last reached the title in 1998, when it won its only trophy so far.
After a tense semi-final finish against Afghanistan, England will be eager to end their title drought of the last 24 years.
Like India, England is also unbeaten in the tournament. Captain Tom Purst led the way with 292 runs at an average of 73 while left-arm pacer Joshua Boyden took 13 wickets at an impressive average of 9.53.
India’s batsmen will also need to be wary of wrist spinner Rehan Ahmed, who has been tasked with bringing success in the middle overs.
Whatever the outcome in the final, the Indian boys have had their moment in the sun in the Caribbean, but given the high hopes they have set for themselves, they will count on nothing less than a trophy.
squads
India: Yash Dhul (Captain), Harnoor Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Sheikh Rashid, Nishant Sindhu, Siddharth Yadav, Anishwar Gautam, Manav Parakh, Kaushal Tambe, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Vicky Ostwal, Garv Sangwan, Dinesh Bana, Aaradhya Yadav, Raj Bawa, Vasu Vats , Ravi Kumar.
England: Tom Purst (Captain), George Bell, Joshua Boyden, Alex Horton, Rehan Ahmed, James Sales, George Thomas, Thomas Aspinwall, Nathan Barnwell, Jacob Bethel, James Coles, William Luxton, James Rave, Fateh Singh, Benjamin Cliff.
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