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The stage is set for the 2024 Under-19 World Cup final which will be played between India and Australia on February 11. While India defeated South Africa in the semifinal, Australia got the better of Pakistan to storm into the final.
Over time, numerous players who excelled in the U-19 World Cup have transitioned to the senior level with remarkable achievements, while some displayed potential but encountered setbacks along the way. India's under-19 cricketers have advanced to the World Cup final once more. This Sunday in Benoni, South Africa, Uday Saharan and his teammates will vie for the chance to claim the title once again.
The Ones Who Achieved Great Success
VIRAT KOHLI
Virat Kohli's emergence stands as the most significant impact of the U-19 World Cup on Indian cricket. Leading India to their second U-19 WC title in Malaysia in 2008, Kohli's team triumphed over South Africa in the final. Kohli himself was India’s second-highest run-scorer in the tournament, amassing 235 runs at an average of 47 and a strike rate of 94.75, including a century. His memorable celebration, dashing towards pacer Siddarth Kaul after clinching the final South African wicket, is a cherished moment in India’s cricket folklore.
YUVRAJ SINGH
Yuvraj Singh provided the first glimpse of his potential for numerous match-winning performances at the senior level when he contributed significantly to India's maiden U-19 World Cup victory in 2000. Playing a crucial role in the Mohammad Kaif-led team, the left-handed batter helped India secure a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the final in Colombo. Yuvraj was named the Man of the Series after scoring 203 runs at an unprecedented strike rate of 103.57. He also showcased his left-arm spin prowess by claiming 12 wickets, ranking as the sixth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament.
VIRENDER SEHWAG
One of Indian cricket’s batting greats, Virender Sehwag participated in the 1998 edition of the tournament held in South Africa. While his batting prowess was well-known, Sehwag also made a significant impact with his off-spin bowling, claiming seven wickets at an impressive economy rate of 3.36. Although India didn't reach the final, Sehwag's all-round abilities garnered a lot of attention.
HARBHAJAN SINGH
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh also made a mark in the 1998 edition, taking eight wickets with an average of 21.12 and an economy rate of 3.44. He played a crucial role in all five of India's victories. Soon after, Harbhajan made his Test debut for India against Australia in Bangalore.
ROHIT SHARMA
India's current captain Rohit Sharma batted at No. 3 during the 2006 U-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka, scoring three half-centuries in six innings. He amassed a total of 205 runs at an average of 41. Although India reached the final, they lost to Pakistan by 38 runs. He also showcased his off-spin skills by taking four wickets.
RAVINDRA JADEJA
The ‘Rockstar’ allrounder Ravindra Jadeja participated in two U-19 World Cups. In 2006, India reached the final, and in 2008, they emerged victorious under Kohli's leadership. During the 2006 tournament, Jadeja played four matches, taking four wickets and contributing with the bat lower down the order. By 2008, his skills had improved significantly, and he became one of the standout performers with the ball, claiming 10 wickets in six matches. He was Kohli's trusted bowler and played a crucial role in the final by dismissing two key middle-order batters to derail South Africa's chase of 160.
CHETESHWAR PUJARA
Few would believe that Cheteshwar Pujara once scored runs faster than Rohit Sharma. This occurred during the 2006 U-19 World Cup when Pujara, opening the batting, scored 349 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 82.11. In comparison, Rohit had a strike rate of 77.35. Pujara hit one century and two half-centuries to become the highest run-scorer. However, he failed in the final and was out for a duck as India collapsed for 71.
SHIKHAR DHAWAN
Right from his U-19 days, Shikhar Dhawan showed a talent for scoring heavily in ICC events. In the 2004 U-19 World Cup, he topped the run charts with 505 runs in seven innings. His standout innings was an explosive unbeaten 155 against Scotland, along with two other centuries. However, Dhawan had to wait for his opportunity to play for the senior side.
SURESH RAINA
Another notable player from the 2004 U-19 World Cup who later made his mark at the senior level is Suresh Raina. He emerged as India’s second-highest run-scorer after Dhawan, amassing 247 runs at an average of 35.28 and a strike rate of 90.80, including three half-centuries. Raina's aggressive batting in the middle-order was particularly impactful. He also contributed with his off-spin, claiming five wickets and playing a crucial role in breaking partnerships. Despite India's loss in the semifinal, the 2004 team is remembered as one of the best.
RISHABH PANT
India's journey to the final of the 2016 edition in Bangladesh, where they were defeated by West Indies U-19, was propelled by the explosive batting of opener Rishabh Pant. He amassed 267 runs in six innings at an average of 44.50, with a strike rate of 104.29, including a century and two half-centuries. Pant formed a formidable opening partnership with another aggressive batter and wicketkeeper, Ishan Kishan. Just one year later, Pant made his breakthrough into the senior Indian team.
Those Who Faded Away
UNMUKT CHAND
Unmukt Chand, the captain of the 2012 U-19 World Cup-winning team, played a crucial role in securing victory with a match-winning century (111 off 130 balls) in the final against hosts Australia. His outstanding performance garnered praise from cricketing legend Ian Chappell, who believed Chand was ready for the international arena. Upon returning home, Chand faced intense media attention and authored a book titled ‘The Sky Is the Limit: My Journey to the World Cup’. However, his form declined at the domestic level, and despite his early success, Chand struggled to sustain his performance. He has since relocated to the USA to participate in Major League Cricket and aims to represent America on the international stage.
ASHOK MENARIA
The stylish left-handed batter from Udaipur, Ashok Menaria, led the Indian team at the 2010 U-19 World Cup in New Zealand. While many players from that squad went on to represent the national team, such as KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Mandeep Singh, and Jaydev Unadkat, Menaria's own career trajectory took a different path. He had a disappointing tournament, managing just 31 runs in five innings. India's sixth-place finish made it one of their most disappointing U-19 World Cup campaigns. Following his U-19 stint, Menaria played for Rajasthan at the first-class level before a dispute with the state board prompted him to relocate to Haryana.
VIJAY ZOL
Originally from the small town of Jalna in Maharashtra, which lacked cricket facilities, Vijay Zol gained attention when he scored an impressive 451 runs in a Cooch Behar Trophy U-19 match in 2011. He later captained the team at the 2014 U-19 World Cup in the UAE, where India exited in the quarterfinals. While his teammates Kuldeep Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, and Sanju Samson went on to represent the national team, Zol did not. He started his first-class career strongly, hitting a century on debut for India ‘A’ against New Zealand ‘A’ and a double-century in Ranji debut for Maharashtra. Despite being picked by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2014, his career took a downturn thereafter. He has not played a single first-class match since 2019. Last year, Zol faced controversy after being charged with kidnapping and extortion in Aurangabad.
SANDEEP SHARMA
The wily medium-pacer Sandeep Sharma from Punjab caught everyone's attention with his impressive swing bowling during the 2012 edition in Australia. Sharma claimed 12 wickets from six matches with an average of 15.75 and an economy rate of 3.62. His standout performance came in the final, where his 4/54 restricted Australia to a below-par score of 225/8. India chased down the target on the back of Unmukt Chand’s century. Sharma joined Kings XI Punjab before the 2013 IPL season and has also played for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR). While he has shown promise at the first-class level, his international career saw a setback after two T20I appearances against Zimbabwe in 2015, where he failed to make an impact and was not selected again.
SIDDARTH KAUL
During the successful 2008 U-19 campaign led by Virat Kohli, Siddarth Kaul emerged as a key figure in the pace department. He claimed 10 wickets in five games at an average of 15.40 and an economy rate of 4.27. Kaul had already made his first-class debut for Punjab before the U-19 World Cup and earned opportunities in three ODIs and three T20Is during the 2018-19 season based on his domestic performances. However, he struggled to replicate his success at the international level and was subsequently dropped from the team. Despite this setback, Kaul has represented four different IPL teams.
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