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YEAR WISE DEVELOPMENTS

2018

India beats Australia

India beat Australia in U-19 World Cup
In domestic cricket Rishabh Pant scored the fastest century by an Indian
From: January 15, 2018: The Times of India

See graphic:

India beat Australia in U-19 World Cup
In domestic cricket Rishabh Pant scored the fastest century by an Indian

How the Indians reached the finals

The Indian U-19 team’s journey to the World Cup finals
From January 31, 2018: The Times of India

See graphic:

The Indian U-19 team’s journey to the World Cup finals

India’s key players

February 3, 2018: The Times of India

KEY PLAYERS FOR INDIA

PRITHVI SHAW

The Mumbai lad shot into prominence as a 14-year old when he smashed 546 off 330 balls in an inter-school match In September last year, at 17, Shaw became the youngest to score a century on Duleep Trophy debut, a record previously held by Sachin Tendulkar. The captain of India’s U-19 team, Shaw has been consistent as an opener and has led the side with maturity and balance. During the tournament, he was bought by Delhi Daredevils for Rs 1.2 crore at the IPL auction. Took two fine catches at gully during the semis against Pakistan.

Matches: 5, Runs: 232, HS: 94, Avg: 77.33, SR: 98.72.

SHUBMAN GILL

With 341 runs under his belt in five games, this Punjab batsman has been the topscorer for India in this World Cup. He has an uncanny similarity with India captain Virat Kohli in the way he plays his shots. Gill, who belongs to Chak Khere Wala village in Punjab’s Fazilka district, started wielding the willow at the age of four. His father Lakhwinder is a farmer and land owner. Shubman was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders for a handsome Rs 1.8 crore in the IPL auction last Saturday. A consistently high-scorer in domestic age-group cricket, Gill will be a thorn in Australia’s side if he stays at the wicket for a while.

Matches: 5, Runs: 341, HS: 102*, Avg: 170.50, SR: 113.28.

KAMLESH NAGARKOTI

The speed-guns in New Zealand have been clocking Nagarkoti consistently at 145 plus, which is unheard of at this level. Nagarkoti has been one of the most talked-about teenagers in New Zealand over the last two weeks, with everyone from Ian Bishop to Sourav Ganguly raving about his raw pace, athleticism and attitude. The wiry right-arm pacer became the most expensive buy in the current U-19 team when he was bought by KKR in the 2018 IPL auction for Rs 3.2 crore. The Rajasthan pacer’s father was a subedar in the Indian Army who spent his retirement corpus to buy a one-bedroom apartment in Jaipur so his son could learn to play cricket.

Matches: 5, Wickets: 7, Best Bowling: 3-18, Avg: 15.14, Eco: 3.19

SHIVAM MAVI

Like his pace colleague Nagarkoti, Mavi caught the cricketing world’s attention when one of his deliveries touched 146kph on the speed gun, in India’s opening match against Australia. Has flattened the stumps of many batsmen, especially with the older ball, with his deadly yorker. Apparently, much like his idol, South African pace ace Dale Steyn, the lad from Noida hates being hit even in the nets. Interestingly, Mavi comes from an area near Meerut which is known to produce swing bowlers rather than genuine quicks.

Switched to Uttar Pradesh after being rejected by Delhi for their U-16 team.

Matches: 5, Wickets: 8, Best Bowling: 3-45, Avg: 15.50, Eco: 3.77.

ANUKUL ROY

This left-arm spinner hails from Samastipur, a small town in northern Bihar. After playing tennisball tournaments there, he moved to Jamshedpur in pursuit of serious cricket. Interestingly, he came into the World Cup straight out of legnthy period of injury rehabilitation. He bowled for hours together at India’s pre-tournament camp in Bengaluru. In a side packed with spinners (there are four others capable of bowling 10 overs), Roy has stood out by being the top wickettaker (12 scalps@7.91) for India. He is also handy with the bat. No wonder, his idol is Ravindra Jadeja.

Matches: 5, Wickets: 12, Best Bowling: 5-14, Avg: 7.91, Eco: 3.65.

Manjot century brings India its fourth WC

Aditya Bhattacharya, February 3, 2018: The Times of India

2000, 2008, 2012 and now 2018. India pulled off a sensational eight-wicket win over Australia in the big final of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup to become the only side in history to lift the coveted title for a record fourth time. A clinical bowling performance by India saw them restrict Australia to 216, a total that Prithvi Shaw and his men gunned down comfortably in the end - with 67 balls remaining - to etch their name in history books.

The platform for the big win was laid by, first, the bowlers, who staged a terrific comeback to remove the last six Australian wickets for just 33 runs, and later by opener Manjot Kalra, who struck a 101-ball century to lead India to victory. Kalra got vital partnerships going with each batsman he batted with - 71 with Shaw, 60 with Shubman Gill and an unbeaten 89 with Harvik Desai and formed the fulcrum around which the chase revolved.

Considering the kind of form India's batting was in, getting 217 was never going to be much of a hassle, and that's exactly how things panned out. Kalra and Shaw provided India a brisk start, putting on 71 inside 12 overs despite a slight intervention due to rain. Even as play resumed, the openers went about scoring at over six and saw through the first period. Shaw spanked thunderous back-to-back cover drives for four that brought up India's fifty in quick time.

Shaw's short but solid knock of 29 ended when he played down the wrong line to Will Sutherland and was bowled. But there was nothing stopping Kalra, who inflicted a brutal carnage on Australia. Once he tonked Zak Evans for a six off a free hit, the left-hander looked in complete control of his innings. He brought up his fifty off 47 balls. The impact of his knock can be gauged by the fact that his partners - Shaw and Gill seemed content playing second fiddle. He played shots all round the ground and smoked three colossal sixes during his knock.

2020

India vs. Pakistan

India beat Pakistan

February 5, 2020: The Times of India

Scoreboard, India vs Pakistan, ICC U-19 World Cup, 2020
From: February 5, 2020: The Times of India

2020: India beat Pakistan
2000-18: Years when India won the U-19 Cricket World Cup
From: February 5, 2020: The Times of India

See graphics:

Scoreboard, India vs Pakistan, ICC U-19 World Cup, 2020

2020, India beat Pakistan;
2000-18, Years when India won the U-19 Cricket World Cup

Boys In Blue Outclass Pakistan, Enter Under-19 World Cup Final

Potchefstroom (South Africa):

Yashasvi Jaiswal batted like a man among boys while Kartik Tyagi reminded Pakistan of Waqar Younis’ toe-crushing yorkers as defending champions India walloped their archrivals by 10 wickets to enter their seventh ICC U-19 World Cup final here on Tuesday. The gulf in class between the two sides was evident as Indian bowlers collectively choked Pakistan to a paltry 172 in 43.1 overs. Left-handed opener Jaiswal then showed his class with an unbeaten knock of 105 off 113 balls, with an equally graceful Divyansh Saxena (59 not out off 99 balls) supporting him in an easy chase completed in only 35.2 overs.

“It’s a dream come true for me. To be able to do this for my country is a great feeling,” Jaiswal, who hit eight fours and four sixes, said after winning the Player of the Match award. India thus maintained their supremacy over Pakistan at the age-group and senior level in ICC tournaments, among both men and women. The Boys in Blue have earlier reached the summit clash in 2000 (winners), 2006 (runners-up), 2008 (winners), 2012 (winners), 2016 (runners-up) and 2018 (winners).

The current batch with key players having already played senior representative cricket and five with IPL deals in their bag showed the difference in skill level and application from their opponents, an aspect that could be attributed to the robust junior cricket structure put in place by none other than Rahul Dravid.

Jaiswal literally toyed with the bowling attack, hitting the Pakistani bowlers to all parts of the ground. The youngest Indian double centurion in List A cricket finished the game with a six, which also completed his hundred.

The Pakistan bowling attack was pedestrian at best and didn’t have much answers to the drives that flowed from Yashasvi’s blade. Divyansh’s batting was also pleasing to the eye. The match as a contest was over in the first half when Pakistani batsmen had no answer to Tyagi’s pace and Ravi Bishnoi’s variations. Pacer Tyagi (2/32 in 8 overs) bowled yorkers at will while leg-spinner Bishnoi (2/46 in 10 overs) was a difficult to read for the Pakistani batsmen.

Pakistan skipper Rohail Nazir (62 off 102 balls) and opener Haider Ali (56 off 77 balls) were the only ones to make significant contributions as their innings lasted 43.1 overs. While Tyagi’s scorching pace and Bishnoi’s googlies were eye-catching, left-arm spinner Atharva Ankolekar (1/29 in 7 overs), left-arm seamer Sushant Mishra (3/28 in 8.1 overs) and parttime leg-spinner Yashasvi Jaiswal (1/11 in 3 overs) also impressed.

Tyagi, probably one of the fastest bowlers in India in his age category, bowled an inswinging yorker from wide off the crease to uproot Irfan Khan’s off-stump and then got his second wicket with an intimidating bouncer that removed tail-ender Tahir Hussain. PTI

Bangladesh beat India in the final

February 10, 2020: The Times of India

POTCHEFSTROOM: A sprightly bunch of Bangladesh boys created history by winning their country's first global cricket title, shocking defending champions India by three wickets in the summit clash of the ICC U-19 World Cup.

In a low-scoring final, Bangladesh first choked India to a meagre 177 in 47.2 overs and then did well enough to score revised target of 170 in 42.1 overs under Duckworth-Lewis method.

Once play resumed after rain, the target was revised to 170 in 46 overs and with seven runs to get and three wickets in hand, it became a cakewalk for the 'Tiger Cubs' as they scripted a golden chapter in their country's cricket history.

On Sunday also, a few players from both sides nearly came to blows at the end of the game and it was India coach Paras Mhambrey, who was seen urging his boys to keep calm as opposition leading pacer Shoriful Islam was seen swearing expletives on camera.

Even then, credit should go Bangladesh's 18-year-old captain Akbar Ali, who showed nerves of steel with a patient 43 not out off 77 balls, which negated more fancied opponent Yashasvi Jaiswal's 88 off 121 balls.

Akbar's cool quotient was there for everyone to see as he marshalled his resources brilliantly and then batted responsibly, seeing out India's threats from leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi and fast bowler Kartik Tyagi's spells before reaching the finishing line with ease.

There were two things that cost India dearly. While batting, India lost their last seven wickets for 21 runs. And then while defending, the number of extras (33) bowled did matter in the final context of the game.

Bangladesh's chase started in earnest with Parvez Hossain Emon (47 off 79 balls) and Tanzid Hasan (17) adding 50 in quick time, primarily due to the former's impressive off-side play.

FIVE THINGS THAT WENT WRONG FOR INDIA IN THE FINAL

1) TOSS: Due to continuous rain at Potchefstroom, the toss proved to be crucial as India’s batsmen struggled.

2) MIDDLE-ORDER COLLAPSE: India lost 7 for 21 in the last 10 overs of their innings which robbed them of getting any finishing kick.

3) POOR RUNNING: Dhruv Jurel and Atharva Ankolekar were stranded on the same end when they were on course for a decent finish and the resultant scene where both batsmen were seen arguing about who has to go back highlighted India’s plight.

4) WAYWARD BOWLING: India conceded far too many extras (33 to be exact) which gifted Bangladesh priceless runs and more deliveries.

5) DROPPED CATCHES: India dropped a couple of sitters during the Bangladesh innings. The one of captain Akbar Ali proved to be costly as he showed the skill and nerve to guide the team home when things looked dodgy.

India vs. SA

Buffalo Park: India loses match; wins series 2-0

India colts lose final one-dayer to SA

East London:

Skipper Priyam Garg’s fifty went in vain as India Under-19 team suffered a five-wicket loss to South Africa in an inconsequential third Youth ODI at the Buffalo Park. Before this match, India Under-19 had already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead after winning the first two matches of the series. Sent in to bat on Monday, India under-19 team lost three wickets before crossing the fifty-run mark with Achille Cloete striking twice for the hosts. Garg and N Tilak Varma (25) then steadied the ship as the two added 58 runs together.

Brief Scores: South Africa U-19 193/5 (Jonathan Bird 88 not out, Andrew Louw 31; Yashasvi Jaiswal 2/40) beat India U-19 192/8 (Priyam Garg 52, N Tilak Varma 25; Pheku Moletsane 2/36) by five wickets.