Cricket

ICC Under-19 World Cup 2022

India have extended their dominance in Under-19 World Cup events with record fifth title win. Yash Dhull-led India beat England by four wickets at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua with the help of terrific performances from Raj Bawa who bagged a record five-wicket haul and Sindhu who soaked up all the pressure to get India over the line with an unbeaten half-century.&nbsp;&nbsp;Epic collapseEngland got off to the worst possible start of a World Cup final after skipper Tom Prest won the toss and elected to bat first. Ravi Kumar got rid of Jacob Bethell and Prest returned back to the dressing room early in the powerplay overs. Opener George Thomas looked ruthless in his approach but could not carry on and got out for 30 to Bawa. The medium pacer inflicted more damage by dismantling English middle order. Bawa got rid of Will Luxton and George Bell off consecutive deliveries. From 47/5, James Rew stood strong but the mini partnerships did not help England regain control. Bawa struck again with Kaushal Tambe supporting him. England found themselves 91/7 in the 25th over and feared getting all out too early.&nbsp;&nbsp;Rew rescues EnglandThe left-handed batter showed exemplary levels of temperament to get the innings back on track. With James Sales on the other end, Rew looked for scoring opportunities and at one point it even looked like England will cross 200 comfortably. Rew got to his half-century in middle overs and then accelerated. However, just before the slog overs, he lost his wicket and missed out on a well-deserved century. The southpaw scored 95 runs from 116 deliveries laced with 12 boundaries. After Rew’s wicket, Indian bowlers did not let the tailenders add much to the score as Sales remained stranded on the other end. England lost their last three wickets within five runs and got all out for 189 with 31 balls left in the innings.&nbsp;Shaky startChasing a target of 190, India did not get off to an ideal start as they lost opener Angkrish Raghuvanshi for a two-ball duck. Harnoor Singh struggled to score quickly against quality English new-ball bowlers and departed after scoring 21 runs from 46 deliveries. After 17.3 overs, India were well below the asking rate at 49/2.&nbsp;&nbsp;Another fifty for RasheedOnce again, all eyes were on Dhull and vice-captain Shaik Rasheed who put up a match-winning partnership in the semi-final against Australia. Rasheed got to his half-century but departed soon after. James Sales inflicted more damage as he got rid of Dhull in the next over, reducing India for 97/4 in the 29th over.&nbsp;&nbsp;Gritty partnershipWith four top batters back in the hut, England bowlers had their tails up but Nishant Sindhu and Raj Bawa took a sensible approach and avoided hitting the panic button. The two shared a crucial 67-run partnership for the fifth wicket to get the run chase back on track. Just when India were looking like cruising towards the target, Bawa took the aerial route off the wrong delivery and lost his wicket for 35.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sindhu holds his nervesTambe struggled to get the strike turning over and could score only one run from nine deliveries. Succumbing to pressure, he got out in the 47th over trying to slash the delivery past point fielder. Sindhu carried on and ensured that there is no anti-climax to the game even when English bowlers applied more pressure. However, it was wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Bana who finished the game in style with two consecutive sixes in the 48th over.&nbsp;6 wins from 6 gamesIndia remained unbeaten throughout the tournament. For most part of the tournament, Dhull’s side registered comfortable wins. The only thriller they played in the tournament was in the final against England.&nbsp;&nbsp;India’s top three battersAngkrish Raghuvanshi (278 runs from six matches) Raj Bawa (252 runs from six matches) Yash Dhull (229 runs from four matches)&nbsp;India’s top three bowlersLeft-arm spinner Vicky Ostwal (12 wickets from six matches) Left-arm fast bowler Ravi Kumar (10 wickets from six matches) Right-arm fast bowler Raj Bawa (9 wickets from six matches)&nbsp;India’s title wins2000: Mohammad Kaif-led India beat Sri Lanka in the final by six wickets. 2008: Virat Kohli-led India beat South Africa by 12 runs. 2012: Unmukt Chand becomes first Indian captain to score a century in the final and register an easy six-wicket win over Australia. 2018: A flawless eight-wicket win by Prithvi Shaw-led India against Australia. 2022: In a closely-fought game, India beat England by six wickets.&nbsp;

icc-under-19-world-cup-14-jan-2022

Undefeated, unbowed, unbroken! India win record fifth Under-19 World Cup title, beat England by 4 wickets

The Indian U-19 team have once again made the nation proud as Yash Dhull and his men outclassed England in the final of the U-19 World Cup by 4 wickets and lifted the prestigious trophy. In a complete domination, team India remained unbeaten throughout the tournament after winning the Asia Cup. Here is a look at all the 11 players who played a vital role in India's U-19 World Cup 2022 triumph in West Indies.&nbsp;Yash DhullBorn in Delhi, the talented youngster is already being compared with fellow Delhi boy and former India captain Virat Kohli. Dhull missed a few games in the tournament having tested positive for Covid-19 virus but the virus could not do much damage to his form. In the tournament he scored 229 runs in total and also scored a terrific hundred in the semi-final win against Australia. He became the third Indian U-19 captain to score a hundred after Kohli and Unmukt Chand.&nbsp;Angkrish RaghuvanshiAnother batter that has been a bright figure in the tournament is Angkrish Raghuvanshi. He scored a hundred against Uganda and a superb 79-run knock against Ireland in the event. He scored 278 runs in the tournament and also scalped two wickets in the tournament. His batting and bowling ability gave the team an extra dimension as Team India marched to glory for the fifth time.&nbsp;Harnoor SinghBorn in Jalandhar, Harnoor Singh scored an 88-run knock against Ireland, where team India were depleted with multiple Covid-19 cases. He scored an unbeaten hundred against Australia in the warm-up game. His contribution wasn't that significant but giving India a good start was his job, which was done exceptionally well. He was the ‘Player of the Tournament’ in the U-19 Asia Cup.&nbsp;Shaik Rasheed&nbsp;Shaik Rasheed was unlucky to have missed out on a hundred against Australia, but his presence in the middle order was the best insurance policy India had in the tournament. In the 2022 ICC U-19 World Cup he scored 201 runs. In the final match he played a crucial knock of 50 runs off 84 balls. Struggling at 37/2, against England, he along with Dhull were reasons why India won the final. He scored an unbeaten 72 against Australia in the warm-up game. He also scored 90 (not out) in the semi-final of the Asia Cup against Bangladesh.&nbsp;Rajvardhan HangargekarOne of the rising stars in the team, Rajvardhan has earned plenty of praise as he has proved to be devastating with the new ball and also he has contributed nicely with the bat down the order. Hangargekar scored some important runs against Ireland and took five wickets in the World Cup. The semi-final encounter against Australia and the final match against England were the only two matches in which he did not get a wicket, otherwise, his form has been exceptionally good for the team. He is tipped by Ravichandran Ashwin to get some bidders in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions.&nbsp;Nishant SindhuAt just 17, Nishant Sindhu is attracting the attention of the cricketing fraternity on various fronts with both bat and ball. He has scalped 6 wickets in the tournament. Sindhu could be a future star for Team India. he scored an unbeaten 78 against the West Indies in a warm-up game. He also led team India in the U-19 World Cup in Dhull's absence.&nbsp;Dinesh BanaBorn in Hisar in Haryana, the wicketkeeper has been an important figure behind the stumps and with the bat as well. He stumped an impressive Jack Sinfield in the semi-final bout against Australia as Team India registered a famous 96-run win.&nbsp;Kaushal TambeKaushal Tambe is one of the few players to have played every single match in the tournament as the Indian team succeeded to lift the U-19 trophy on yet another occasion. Tambe scalped five important wickets in the middle overs throughout the tournament. He picked couple of wickets in the Asia Cup final while his best figures of 30/3 came against the West Indies in a warm-up game.&nbsp;Raj BawaBorn in Nahan, Himachal Pradesh Raj Bawa has the potential to be the next big star of Indian cricket. The right-arm medium-fast bowler reminds of Kapil Dev as he already has a hundred and a five-wicket haul in the tournament. In the entire tournament, he smashed more than 200 runs and scalped a best bowling figure of 5/31 against England in the final. In total he has picked up 9 wickets in the tournament. There are high expectations of the boy, who is again a player that IPL franchises can look forward to.&nbsp;Vicky OstwalVicky Ostwal is one of India's best recruits at the U-19 level. He is India's highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 12 wickets and was the 'Man of the Match' in the final of Asia Cup U-19.&nbsp;Ravi KumarThe left arm of Ravi Kumar saw India capture the glory with some exceptional performances, in the entire tour Ravi bagged 10 wickets and was the pick of the bowlers for India. In the final match he displayed his superb bowling skills by picking up four wickets. Prior to the final, he scalped five wickets in two knock-out games, highlighting his importance at the crucial phase.

The 11 stars of Indian U-19 team who clinched the fifth ICC U-19 WC title

Saturday's high-voltage match of the Under-19 World Cup 2022 final between India and England was ultimately won by the Yash Dhull-led side. Indian cricket fans and followers were glued to their TV sets on February 6 (Saturday) and saluted the spirit of the young players who scripted a historic feat by clinching the Under-19 World Cup title for the fifth time. Dhull and his boys proved that their future is bright by establishing their supremacy first with the ball and then with the bat.&nbsp;In a situation like this, from veteran cricketers to cricket experts and BCCI officials, all were kind to the young players who registered a significant win in the history of Indian cricket. Meanwhile, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah made an amazing announcement.&nbsp;&nbsp;Big announcementAs soon as the Indian U-19 team clinched the trophy, BCCI Chief Secretary Jay Shah immediately made an announcement by tweeting, that he has decided to reward the players. Shah said that he would reward each and every player with Rs 40 lakh and the support staff with Rs 25 lakh.&nbsp;"I'm pleased to announce the reward of 40 lacs per player and 25 lacs per support staff for the U19 #TeamIndia contingent for their exemplary performance in #U19CWCFinal. You have made India proud," Jay Shah wrote on Twitter.&nbsp;While talking about Indian team’s victory in the final, Shah congratulated the Indian team members and called the victory as “very very special.”&nbsp;“Congratulations #BoysInBlue on winning the @ICC U19 World Cup. This is a Very Very Special @VVSLaxman281 win against all odds. Each of our youngsters has shown the heart and temperament needed to make history in these trying times #INDvENG #U19CWCFinal,” Shah tweeted.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the matchIn the final match, England batted first and registered a total of 189 runs in 44.5 overs. For England their batsman James Raw played a crucial knock of 95 runs to help his side in reaching a respectable total. India’s Raj Bawa produced a terrific bowling display to pick up five wickets and he was well supported by Ravi Kumar as he took four wickets.&nbsp;In reply, India reached the target with balls remaining and losing six wickets.&nbsp;

U-19 World Cup winners who won the title for fifth time to get rewards; BCCI secretary makes a big announcement

South Africa might have not lifted the Under-19 World Cup trophy but it's young phenom Dewald Brevis, who is considered as the 'Baby AB de Villiers' has grabbed everyone's eyeballs with his splendid batting throughout the tournament. Dewald not only broke Shikhar Dhawan's all-time record by mustering 506 runs in the Under-19 World Cup campaign but was also shortlisted for IPL 2022 mega auction. In an interview, on being asked about his plans for IPL Brevis said," I would love to be in the IPL and learn from top players. The reality is that you can’t choose who to play for in the IPL. It’s always been a dream of mine to play in the IPL." Brevis is often compared to AB de Villiers, who remains one of the most loved cricketers across the globe. Not even a year after Mr. 360 decided to hang up his boots, the cricket world is gearing up to witness the next ABD from South Africa in the form of &nbsp;Brevis.This year, Brevis has been sensational with the bat for the Protea Colts. He has scored runs at an average of 84. 33, scoring three half-centuries and two hundred in the process.&nbsp;Other than prolific run-scoring form, it is Brevis' playing style that has earned him the nickname 'Baby AB'. In fact, the original AB de Villiers admitted to have been left stunned when he watched Brevis play for the first time."I'll admit I didn't expect much (when we met), until I saw him bat &amp; saw how much potential he has. There are similarities between our styles &amp; attacking nature,” De Villiers had said earlier.&nbsp;Brevis himself remains a big fan of ABD. In fact the two also played for the same school (Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies)). Brevis also wears the No. 17 jersey, like AB.&nbsp;"During lockdown, I contacted him and I asked him for some advice and he always made time to reply to me," Brevis said in an interview with ICC. "I like the way he explains cricket. He keeps it simple," he added.&nbsp;The 18-year-old expressed his love playing in front of live TV cameras. "We had a taste of it in South Africa when the SA U19s played in the Provincial T20 knockout last October. I just love playing in front of live TV cameras. It also gives me the opportunity to watch my innings and review it. I never think of impressing selectors - I just love playing the game," Brevis said. On being asked about his favourite shot he said," Definitely three shots: The 360 shots of de Villiers, Sachin Tendulkar’s straight drive and the Cover Drive of Virat Kohli".&nbsp;South African colts failed to make their case in the Under-19 World Cup tournament. Meanwhile, India romped England by four wickets to win the ICC U19 World Cup as they lifted a record-extending fifth ICC U-19 World Cup title at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua on Saturday. The Yash Dhull had earlier won the U-19 World Cup in 2000, 2008, 2012, and 2018.

'It’s always been a dream of mine to play in IPL': Under-19 WC batting phenom Dewald Brevis

Sri Lanka U-19 cricket team’s right-arm fast bowler Vinuja Ranpul took 5 wickets conceding just 10 runs against Afghanistan U-19 cricket team in the ICC U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022 but a poor batting display from the Sri Lankan batters helped Afghanistan in securing a 4-run victory and seal their spot for the semi-finals.&nbsp;Sri Lanka’s decision to win the toss and bowl first seemed to be a good choice after, batting first, the Afghanistan team managed to register a mere total of 134 runs losing 10 wickets in 47.1 overs. Only three of the Afghanistan batters- Allah Noor (25 runs off 58 balls), Abdul Hadi (37 runs off 97 balls) and Noor Ahmad (30 runs off 33 balls) - managed to reach the two-digit mark in the innings.&nbsp;Brilliant bowlingRanpul exhibited his terrific bowling skills to dismiss five Afghanistan batters. The 18-year-old pacer got good support from skipper Dunith Wellalage who scalped three wickets in the match. Apart from these two bowlers, Yasiru Rodrigo and Treveen Mathew picked up a wicket each.&nbsp;Sri Lanka’s lethal bowling saw Afghanistan lose their four top-order batsmen for just two runs. Later, Ahmad and Hadi helped their side in recovering from the early danger and reach a mere total of 134 runs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Poor battingIn reply, Sri Lankan batters started the run-chase after they lost seven wickets within just 43 runs. A lack of understanding and communication seemed to be there between the Sri Lankan batters as three (Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Sakuna Liyanage, Yasiru Rodrigo) of their first seven wickets were results of run out. Later, Ranpul also had to be back to the pavilion after he was run out, scoring just 11 runs.&nbsp;A 69-run partnership between Raveen de Silva (21 runs off 84 balls) and skipper Wellalage (34 runs off 61 deliveries), for the eighth wicket, helped Sri Lanka in reach 112 runs. The crucial partnership came to an end after Sri Lanka skipper was dismissed in the 41st over by Afghanistan bowler Nangeyalia Kharote.&nbsp;After that they managed to score 18 more runs and eventually had to concede a four-run defeat.&nbsp;Afghanistan’s Bilal Sami picked up two wickets conceding 33 runs.&nbsp;

U19 World Cup: Sri Lankan bowler picks up 5 wickets but Afghanistan manage to defend 134-run total

Team India will have a shot at revenge on Saturday (January 29) as they face Bangladesh in the quarter-final of the Under-19 World Cup. The encounter will be a repeat of the 2020 U-19 World Cup final, where the Tigers came out on top. The clash will freshen the memories of the 2020 final where set of players from both the teams clashed including the support staff. Both teams will be full of confidence, but the Indian team will have the edge having won all their group encounters in the tournament so far.&nbsp;&nbsp;Last World Cup meeting ended in a fightThe last time this two met in the World Cup, the two teams collided in a heated alternation that later got physical. Bangladesh won the final by three wickets by DLS method. But Shoriful Islam's send off for Yashasvi Jaiswal was one of the flash points that led to the chaos in the final. Despite Jaiswal's 88-run knock, the clash ended in an embarrassing defeat for India in the final as Bangladesh clinched their maiden title.&nbsp;What does the form say?Momentum will be on Team India's side on Saturday as they have won all of their last eight matches in all competitions. The Asian champions are one of the favourites, but were curtailed by Covid-19 absentees in their previous encounters. However, that didn't stop the Indian team from winning big against Ireland and Uganda.&nbsp;Bangladesh on the flip side bounced back from their opening day defeat against England with convincing wins against Canada and United Arab Emirates (UAE). The defending champions will have to work to do though, as they will have to keep Raj Bawa and Angkrish Raghuvanshi shut.&nbsp;So far in the U-19 World CupThe Indian team beat South Africa by 45 runs in a tight contest on the opening day thanks to captain Yash Dhull's knock of 82 runs and Vicky Ostwal's fifer. That win was followed by a convincing 174-run win against Ireland in Trinidad. The same venue saw team India register a record 405/5 against Uganda last Saturday. In absence of Dhull, Nishant Sandhu led India to their third consecutive win in the tournament.&nbsp;The defending champions had a poor start to the campaign, as they embarrassingly lost to England. The entire team managed to score only 97 runs, as England ran out winners by seven wickets. But an eight-wicket and nine-wicket win in the remaining two group matches saw the champions through as group winners.&nbsp;Return of big playersWhile skipper Yash Dhull, vice-captain Shaik Rasheed, Siddharth Yadav, Aaradhya Yadav and Manav Parakh will be making a comeback to the side, stand-in skipper Sindhu has been ruled out of the clash after testing positive for Covid-19.&nbsp;Repeat of Asia Cup semi-finalThe contest could also serve as revenge for Bangladesh as they were beaten by India just over a month ago in Sharjah in the U-19 Asia Cup. After scoring 243/8 while batting first, the Bangladesh team were nowhere closer to the target as they lost by 103 runs. Rasheed of India will have happy memories of this one as he scored an unbeaten 90 runs to guide India to the final.&nbsp;The encounter will be played at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua and the match will start at 6:30 PM IST.

U-19 WC Preview: India out for revenge against Bangladesh await in QF as Dhull & others return for clash 

Over the years the Under-19 World Cup has produced some of the bright stars of the cricketing world. South Africa's Dewald Brevis is another one of those rising stars, who has hit the ground running. The 18-year-old, who idolises former South Africa captain AB de Villiers, opened up on how he picked his jersey no.17 after a conversation with the legend himself. &nbsp;“He (AB de Villiers) is a legend and one of the best in the whole world. I like being compared to him but I would like to have my own identity as Dewald Brevis,” the youngster said in a video posted by International Cricket Council (ICC) on their website. “At first I was overwhelmed, I couldn’t get a word out. I just sat there and listened to him. As the relationship grew, it became easier to speak to him. AB was always my role model,” he added. The right-handed batter has been a sensation so far in the U-19 World Cup, where he is the highest run-scorer with 362 runs in four innings. His scores of 104, 97, 96 and 65 have led to comparison with former great De Villiers. Brevis, who with his batting display is considered an heir to Mr. 360 with the top form, has attracted the attention of cricketing fraternity. “He wore the number 17 jersey. I just looked up to that. Then I asked AB if I can carry that number 17 on my back and then he said “You’re welcome”. So it’s a big honour for me to wear that jersey,” Brevis concluded. The Johannesburg-born star was unlucky to have missed out on hundreds against England and Ireland, but that hasn't stopped him from catching the headlines. His batting average speaks volumes with an astonishing 90.50. Early signs suggest that the numbers will only get better. The 18-year-old would be slightly disappointed though, as his team exited the competition at the quarter-final stage, losing to England by six wickets. But his performances have already captured the eyes of selectors and it now remains to be seen how he performs on the domestic circuit, before earning an international call-up. Perhaps an outside chance for an Indian Premier League (IPL) contract also remains a possibility for the youngster.

South Africa’s U-19 WC sensation Dewald Brevis reveals how he asked AB de Villiers' permission to carry 'no. 17' on his jersey

Two U-19 World Cup matches have been postponed as nine Canadian cricket players were tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. The current edition of the U-19 World Cup is presently being played in the West Indies. Canada, scheduled to play Scotland on January (29) Saturday, at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad will now have to wait for their encounter as they are depleted with the outbreak and are unable to field their team.&nbsp;&nbsp;The consequence of the postponement means that Canada's match against either Uganda or Papua New Guinea (PNG) will also have to be postponed as the players will be in isolation.&nbsp;The official statement "Canada's plate play-off semifinal with Scotland on 29 January is canceled and in accordance with the playing conditions Scotland will progress to the 13th/14th play-off as a result of having a better net-run-rate than Canada from all matches played in the event,” a statement from International Cricket Council (ICC) read. "The 15th/16th play-off that would have featured Canada against either Uganda or PNG will also not take place. "We are incredibly disappointed to have to cancel two ICC U-19 Men's Cricket World Cup games due to COVID-19 at this stage of the event,” ICC Head of Events, Chris Tetley said. It is worth noting that, last week West Indies had an ODI game against Ireland postponed due to the outbreak of the pandemic.&nbsp;&nbsp;Indian team hit by virusEarlier, five players from the Indian team also tested positive for the coronavirus, during the U-19 World Cup. Australia captain Pat Cummins was forced to sit out of the Adelaide Test against England in the Ashes after he was in contact with a Covid-19 positive person. &nbsp;"We were expecting to see some positive cases throughout the event and to date these have been managed in accordance with our bio-safety plan without impacting on fixtures. However with so many players from the Canadian team testing positive it will not be possible to stage these games," Tetley added. The latest postponement could impact the schedule of the other matches as well. The U-19 World Cup is already in the knock-out stage. While teams that aren't in the Super League knock-out stage are trying to finish as higher as possible through the plate stage.&nbsp;In the meantime, the players will remain isolated until they are tested negative and allowed to return back to the field.

Two U-19 World Cup matches postponed after nine Canadian players test positive for Covid-19

The India U-19 cricket team secured a comfortable 174-run victory against Ireland to qualify for the Super League stage of the ICC U-19 World Cup played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Indian team had to suffer a major setback before the start of their second game of the ongoing World Cup tournament after six of their cricketers were tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. Skipper Yash Dhull, vice-captain Shaik Rasheed, Manav Parakh, Vasu Vats, Aaradhya Yadav and Siddarth Yadav were the five players to be found positive but that did not seem to have created much problem for the Indian team after they managed to beat their opponents with sheer ease in the World Cup.&nbsp;Indian battingAfter winning the toss, Ireland skipper Tim Tector decided to bowl first and the decision seemed to have backfired as the Irish bowlers took 26 overs to pick up the first wicket.&nbsp;Indian opening batsmen Harnoor Singh and Angkrish Raghuvanshi notched a solid opening partnership of 164 runs to provide a brilliant start to their batting. Delhi-born, Raghuvanshi (79 off 79 balls) was the first batsman to be dismissed after he failed to play a shot through the off side and managed to provide just an edge which was comfortably caught by wicketkeeper Joshua Cox. Jamie Forbes was the first bowler to provide the crucial breakthrough. &nbsp;&nbsp;Harnoor on the other hand, went on to carry on his terrific batting show as he scored 88 off 101 deliveries. His innings was comprised of 12 boundaries. Harnoor looked set to score a century but was eventually dismissed by Matthew Humphreys.&nbsp;&nbsp;Skipper Nishant Sindhu (36 off 34 balls), Raj Bawa (42 off 64 deliveries) and Rajvardhan Hangargekar (39 off just 17 balls) gave the openers a great support to register a solid total of 307 for 5 wickets in 50 overs.&nbsp;For Ireland, their 19-year-old medium pacer Muzamil Sherad was the best bowler as he managed to pick up three wickets for his side.&nbsp;Poor battingIn reply, the Irish batting unit collapsed pretty early after their opening batsman Liam Doherty (7 runs) was dismissed by Ravi Kumar in the 4th over of the innings. And since the fall of the first wicket no Irish player looked promising enough to do something concrete in the run chase. Scott Macbeth (32 off 40 deliveries) was the highest run-scorer for the Ireland team.&nbsp;For India, bowlers Garv Sangwan, Aneeshwar Gautam and Kaushal Tambe picked up &nbsp;two wickets each as Ireland were bundled out for just 133 runs in 39 overs.&nbsp;With this victory the Indian team remained the table-toppers with four points from two matches and will play Uganda in their last match of the Group Stage.&nbsp;

Covid-hit India register massive win against Ireland to qualify for U-19 World Cup knockouts

The India U-19 cricket team will start their ICC U-19 World Cup journey tomorrow (January 15) against South Africa at the Providence Stadium, in Guyana. &nbsp;&nbsp;The India U-19 team is the most successful teams in the history of this event as they had previously lifted the trophy four times in 2000, 2008, 2012 and 2018. The Indian team also finished as runners-ups thrice in 2006, 2016 and 2020 editions.&nbsp;&nbsp;Skipper Yash DhullLast year’s runners-ups under the leadership of Yash Dhull will be high on confidence after they managed to secure victories in both their warm-up games. In the first warm-up match against West Indies, India secured a convincing 108-run victory. Against Australia, in the second warm-up match, they claimed a comfortable win by nine wickets.&nbsp;Dhull scored a terrific half-century against West Indies. In the bowling department, Kaushal Tambe and Manav Parakh had taken three wickets each in the game. &nbsp;Focus on Harnoor SinghIn the second warm-up match, India’s left-arm medium pacer Ravi Kumar scalped four Aussie wickets and helped his side in restricting the opponents for 268. In reply, opening batsman Harnoor Singh scored a brilliant century (100 off 108 balls) and his teammate Shaik Rasheed scored 72 off 74 balls to help India get home with nine wickets in hand.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the batting unit a lot will depend on Harnoor and skipper Dhull. The bowling lineup, on the hand, is expected to be led by medium pacer Ravi Kumar.&nbsp;&nbsp;Apart from the opponent teams, another factor that will bother the players this time around will be &nbsp;the bio-bubbles. India U-19 coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar accepted that it is a challenge but he wants the players to get used to it.&nbsp;“Yes, it is a challenge. What we need to realise is that this is the norm now. It is better to get used to it. It is the reality now, staying in the bubble. The boys will be able to learn from this. After this World Cup also, when they need to stay in bubbles, they will be up for it,” coach Kanitkar told during a virtual press conference on January 13.

IND vs SA U19 WC Preview: Yash Dhull-led India look to start off title race with major win

After a successful Under-19 World Cup where the Boys in Blue emerged victorious, the cricketing fraternity is singing the hymns of praise by applauding the players. Former Indian chief selector MSK Prasad is no exception to it as he shared his opinion on the team's performance and highlighted Shaik Rasheed as the future star of Indian cricket. He compared him to former Indian captain and current head coach Rahul Dravid while underlining him as perfect no.3 for the team. "He can be our future No. 3 in red ball and white ball cricket," Prasad quoted while speaking to Cricbuzz. "We have just won the Under-19 World Cup and we are over the moon. The victory was a tribute to the bonding among the players and the coaches have ensured we stayed here (in the Caribbean) like a family. My future... I will take it the way it comes. I need to improve my game and I will work on it," the former chief selector said. Prasad has a close affection for Rasheed as they both hail from the city of Guntur in Andhra Pradesh. The former India wicketkeeper said that Rasheed has a bright future going forward. Prasad has played a major role in development of players in Southern Indian city of Guntur. "He likes to score in front of the wicket and bats late, giving himself sufficient time to play the ball. Those are very good qualities. What was most impressive was his temperament. He never looked rattled when India were under pressure," Prasad added. &nbsp;Rasheed, still 17 had a tournament to remember as he amassed 201 runs in four matches. He was unfortunate to have missed out on a hundred in the semi-final encounter against Australia as he was dismissed for 94 runs and put together a third-wicket stand of 204 runs as India went on to beat Australia. He also smashed a fifty in the final as Yash Dhull-led Team India won the U-19 World Cup for a record fifth time. He missed a couple of group stage matches after testing positive for Covid-19. While Rasheed flies high, expectations will now be higher from him. History has suggested players starring at the junior level have gone on to achieve big things; Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh are prime examples who first won the junior edition and went on to win the World Cup in 2011.&nbsp;

‘He can be our future No. 3’: MSK Prasad hails U-19 WC hero Shaik Rasheed

Yash Dhull-led India created history as they entered the final of Under-19 World Cup for the fourth consecutive edition. Unbeaten in the tournament so far, India dominated three-time U-19 World Cup champions. In a one-sided affair, India won the match by a big margin of 96 runs at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua. India will now face England in an attempt to win their record fifth U-19 World Cup title on February 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;Early wicketsAfter Dhull won the toss and opted to bat first, India got off to a slow start against quality Australian fast bowlers. Unable to score freely, Indian openers Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Harnoor Singh lost their wickets without making a major impact. With India struggling at 37/2, Dhull joined vice-captain Shaik Rasheed in the middle. The two steadied the ship and then dominated Aussie bowlers.&nbsp;&nbsp;Match-winning partnershipDhull and Rasheed shared a 204-run stand for the third wicket that laid a solid platform for a big total in the semi-final. Dhull got to his century and joined the elite list of Indian captains Virat Kohli and Unmukt Chand. The Delhi-born batter scored 108 runs from 108 deliveries including 10 fours and one six. On the other hand, Rasheed missed his century as he was dismissed for 94 runs from 108 deliveries. He hit eight fours and one six in his 94-run knock.&nbsp;&nbsp;Epic slogging&nbsp;In the last 10 overs, India piled on 108 runs despite losing the two set batters. Wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Bana helped India finish the innings with a flourish as he faced just four deliveries to score 20 runs. Before Bana, Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Nishant Sindhu contributed with 12 and unbeaten 13 respectively. For Australia, Jack Nisbet and William Salzmann picked up two wickets each whereas other bowlers remained wicketless. Tom Whitney turned out to be the most expensive Aussie bowler as he conceded 74 runs in his nine overs.&nbsp;Run chase cut shortChasing a big total of 291 (as per Under-19 standards), Australia got off to a poor start as they lost opener Teague Wyllie for a single-digit score to left-arm pacer Ravi Kumar. The second-wicket partnership of 68 runs got India nervous for a while but Raghuvanshi provided the breakthrough in the form of Corey Miller who scored a 46-ball 38. In the next over, Australia faced another setback as skipper Connor Connolly fell to Nishant Sindhu. Giving in to the scoreboard pressure and quick fall of wickets, opener Campbell Kellaway threw his wicket away. Kellaway scored 30 runs from 53 deliveries. In a matter of 12 runs, Australia lost three quick wickets and were reduced to 83/4 in the 21st over with required run rate climbing up.&nbsp;&nbsp;Lachlan Shaw took charge of the proceedings but did not find much support from the lower-middle over. Nivethan Radhakrishnan (11), Salzmann (7) and wicketkeeper-batter Tobias Anell (4) struggled to get going and got stuck in the Indian spin web. Jack Sinfield’s cameo kept Australian fans interested for some time but he got stumped trying to over-attack. Sinfield scored a 14-ball 20 including two fours and one six.&nbsp;&nbsp;Shaw got to his half-century from 64 deliveries. However, it was just a consolation as he dragged the ball on to his stumps in the 39th over and got out for 51. Tom Whitney delayed the inevitable for few overs with his 17-ball 19 including two sixes but a confusion led to his run out and Australia got all out for 194 with 49 balls left in the innings.

Yash Dhull-led India through to 4th consecutive Under-19 WC final with massive win over three-time champions Australia

The Indian team is gearing up for the semi-final clash against Australia in the U-19 World Cup, while the mega auctions for the Indian Premier League (IPL) are around the corner. In the pre-match press conference captain Yash Dhull insisted that the team is focused on the current tournament and not on the IPL auctions that take place in mid-February. He was also full of praise for National Cricket Academy (NCA) head VVS Laxman, who is acting as an unofficial mentor of the side.&nbsp;Dhull and company eye IPL contracts“IPL auction is there and I am trying to focus on the present, whatever has to happen will happen and if I keep my focus on the game and do well, it will only be beneficial for me going forward,” Dhull said while spoke in the pre-match press conference on Tuesday.&nbsp;The stars of the U-19 team will be aware of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions. Players like Dhull, Vicky Ostwal will certainly be on the radars of some franchises as they will be good options with low prices. Ravichandran Ashwin recently quoted about Rajvardhan Hangargekar, who he thinks will be attracting plenty of bidders in the auctions in Bangalore.&nbsp;The U-19 team has produced some of the big stars in IPL in recent years, not any bigger than former India captain Virat Kohli. Like Dhull, Kohli also captained the Indian U-19 team in the 2008 edition and led them to win, so expectations will be high from the current crop of Indian players.&nbsp;Plan for success“The Australian bowling attack is a normal one and we focus on building partnerships as soon as we lose quick wickets. Our focus then shifts towards building partnerships so that we could score more in death overs,” Dhull quoted on the plan for the semi-final.&nbsp;The skipper was then asked about the role of Laxman, who has been in frequent touch with the boys. The former India player has been serving as an unofficial mentor to the U-19 team, guiding and giving them necessary instructions. He also highlighted Laxman's influence in the team camp.&nbsp;"Laxman sir shares his experience with us which is very crucial for upcoming games and he has a very important role in our camp.&nbsp;"It wasn't difficult as VVS Laxman sir used to call us to guide us. So it wasn't tough and we were focused towards the Bangladesh match. We will play with a positive mind and set the target according to the wicket tomorrow,” Dhull asserted.

Yash Dhull & Co. focused on U-19 World Cup semi-final clash against Australia amidst IPL auctions

Confidence will be high for four-time champions India after a winning start to the U-19 World Cup on Saturday (January 15) against South Africa. The high-flying Asian champions will once again take the field on Wednesday (January 19) in their second group B encounter against Ireland in Trinidad, with the winner guaranteed a place in the next round. Yash Dhull, Vicky Ostwal were the heroes in the win against the Proteas, but can they outclass an Ireland team, also in high confidence after a winning start against Uganda? &nbsp;Captain Yash Dhull and Vicky Ostwal can be the difference makers Captain Dhull and Ostwal were the engineers of India's win against South Africa. Dhull scored a superb 82 off 100 deliveries to guide India to a 232-run total. Ostwal, adjudged 'Man of the Match' was formidable with the ball as he ended with a fifer to endure a crushing blow to the Proteas.&nbsp; &nbsp;Not too much separates the two teams Both teams almost had identical opening encounters; while India scored 232, Ireland scored 236 in their opening match. The margin of win wasn't too far as well, India won by 45 runs while Ireland won by 39 runs against Uganda. So not much separates the two teams. &nbsp;Ireland shouldn't be underestimated Wicketkeeper batter Joshua Cox was the fulcrum of Ireland's win with a terrific hundred in the opening contest. With eight fours and a six, the 18-year-old ended with 111 from 113 deliveries. Matthew Humphreys will be another asset in the arsenal for the Men in Green as he got 25/4 against a lackluster Uganda batting lineup. Indian batters may have to be cautious against Humphreys. &nbsp;What does the form say? India are currently on a hot streak of six wins. The six wins in a row have seen Team India stamp their authority as one of the favourites to win the title. India emerged victorious by beating Sri Lanka in the final by beating them comprehensively. The only loss during the tournament came against arch-rivals Pakistan on the final ball. Ireland most recently lost against Sri Lanka in the warm-up game but bounced back against Uganda in the opening encounter. So their fluctuating form might be a little worry for Tim Tector's side. The match will start at 6:30 PM IST and will be played at the iconic Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad.

U-19 WC India vs Ireland Preview: Can Team India continue their superb form?

Hosts West Indies bounced back from their opening day defeat to romp minnows Scotland by seven wickets in a one-sided affair at Warner Park, St. Kitts in the ongoing Under-19 World Cup 2022. The day also saw sub-continent sides Sri Lanka and Pakistan maintain their unbeaten start by beating Australia and Zimbabwe respectively. With two wins in two group D encounters, Sri Lanka have qualified for the next stage of the tournament.&nbsp;Scotland brought to the knees by West Indies bowling attackThe Scotland scorecard looked like a phone number as nine players were dismissed for single-digit scores, including three ducks. Oliver Davidson (43 off 93) was the lone man standing for Scotland as the entire team managed to score a mere 95 in 35.1 overs. Shiva Sankar (17/3), Onaje Amory (26/2) and Anderson Mahase (16/2) gave the opposition no chance as the entire team was reduced to a double-figure total. In reply, hosts West Indies did lose three wickets but made sure there was not much panic. They edged Scotland in little less than 20 overs. Shaqkere Parris top-scored with 26 off 29 deliveries. The win sees West Indies open their account whereas for Scotland it is two defeats in a row.&nbsp;Sri Lanka continue impressive start against AustraliaAfter opening day wins, both Sri Lanka and Australia were determined to go one better and book a place in the next phase. Sri Lanka's decision to bowl first paid dividends as Australia were restricted to 175/10 in their 50 overs. Captain Dunith Wellalage with his left-arm orthodox scalped a fifer as he ended with 28/5. Campbell Kellaway, contributed a big chunk of 54 from 77 deliveries in the Australian innings. Despite initial struggles, Sri Lanka made sure they got over the line in 37 overs ending with 177/6 to win by four wickets. It was the all-around performance of Wellalage as he grabbed attention with 52 off 71 deliveries. Two wins in two have Sri Lanka remain unbeaten while Australia were given a reality check after winning the opening contest against West Indies.&nbsp;Part time wicketkeeper Haseebullah's ton wins the day for PakistanTwo-time champions Pakistan started their campaign with a comprehensive 115-run win against Zimbabwe, thanks to a 135-run knock from Haseebullah Khan. The wicketkeeper-batter who considers himself a part-timer behind the wickets, did not hesitate to make his mark with the bat as he smashed 10 fours and four sixes in his innings. Before today's knock Haseebullah had failed miserably in his last five innings. A 75-run knock from Irfan Khan saw Pakistan score 315/9 in their 50 overs. Things didn't start well for Zimbabwe as they were struggling for 82/6 inside the first 20 overs and never looked like putting up a fight against the Men in Green's lethal pace attack. Awais Ali with 56/6 ran riot to break the back of Zimbabwe batting lineup as they only managed to score 200 in 42.4 overs and lost by 115 runs. With a big win, Pakistan go to the top in group C, while Zimbabwe remain second having already won their first match.

Sri Lanka stun Australia in Under-19 World Cup; Pakistan, West Indies win big against minnows

Defending champions Bangladesh were given a reality check in their opening encounter of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 World Cup 2022 by England as they were thrashed by seven wickets. The encounter turned out to be a one-sided contest at St. Kitts. The defending champions could only manage 97 runs in their innings. In reply, England chased the target down with 24 overs to spare.&nbsp;&nbsp;Bangladesh made a slow start to their innings before losing their first wicket of Mahfijul Islam in the fifth over. Rakibul Hasan's decision to bat first backfired as they lost wickets too many early wickets and slumped to 26/5 by the 14th over. Bangladesh kept losing wickets thereafter and were tottering at 51/9 by half way mark of the innings.&nbsp;England produced a lethal bowling attack to bundle out Bangladesh for 97 in the Group A match. Left-arm pacer Joshua Boyden was the pick of the bowlers for England with figures of 16/4, while right-arm fast bowler Thomas Aspinwall scalped two wickets, giving away 18 runs. Besides, Tom Prest (5/1), Fateh Singh (29/1) and James Sales (29/1) took a wicket each.&nbsp;Bangladesh's struggle from the onset can be gauged from the fact that only four of their batters managed double digit scores, with no.11 Ripon Mondal top-scoring with an unbeaten knock of 33 off 41 deliveries. Mondal hit five boundaries and one six during his innings. Bangladesh's highest partnership of 46 runs was forged by the last-wicket pair of Mondal and Naimur Rohman.&nbsp;England took their time during the chase as Jacob Bethell top scored with a 63-ball 44. Bethell's patient knock included four boundaries and two sixes. James Rew scored 27 of 39 deliveries to support Bethell, but the latter couldn't hold out as he was victim of poor running between the wickets. For Bangladesh, Mondol and Rakibul picked one wicket each. Bangladesh bowlers bowled tight lines but with just 99 runs to defend, the defending champions didn't stand any chance.&nbsp;The loss for defending champions means, they occupy the bottom spot while England are at the top of the table in a four-team group A. UAE and Canada are sandwiched in between, as the former won the encounter between the two to sit at second position. England next take on Canada on Tuesday (January 18) while Bangladesh will have the opportunity to bounce back on Thursday (January 20) against UAE.

U-19 WC: Champions Bangladesh humiliated by England to register seven-wicket win 

Four-time champions India have started on a sensational note in the U-19 World Cup by inflicting a 45-run defeat on South Africa. A fifer from Pune-born Vicky Ostwal saw Team India make a remarkable comeback, scalping the last seven wickets in just 49 runs to get off the mark. The win sees India go top of the table in Group B, but it is still early days.&nbsp;Captain Dhull steadies the ship after poor startThe encounter played at the Providence Park in Guyana saw South Africa U-19 team captain George Van Heerden win the toss and elect to bowl. After a disappointing start to the match, losing both openers early, captain Yash Dhull and 17-year-old Shaik Rasheed steadied the ship. At 11/2 in just five overs, Dhull alongside Rasheed (31 off 54 deliveries) put together a third-wicket stand of 71 runs, highest in the innings.&nbsp;Captain Dhull held one end firmly, but Team India lost wickets consistently at the other end. Dhull was a victim of poor judgment in the 39th over as the mix-up resulted in him getting run-out for a well-made 82 off 100 deliveries as the Indian team ended at 232 in 46.5 overs. In the bowling department, Matthew Boast (3), Aphwie Mnyanda and Dewald Brevis (both with two wickets) were the pick of the bowlers for the Proteas.&nbsp;Positive start for India but South Africa comeback to dominate first 25 oversThe Asian U-19 champions started on a bright note when Rajvardhan Hanaregekar didn't take long to produce India's first breakthrough when he dismissed Ethan John Cunningham on the fourth ball of the every first over, he went without troubling the scorers. This joy though was short-lived when Valintine Kitime (25 off 33 deliveries) and Brevis (65 off 99 deliveries) put together a 58-run stand for the second wicket to see the Proteas make a comeback.&nbsp;'Vicky Fantastic' and Raj Bawa guide India throughA stage for rising stars, India's Vicky Ostwal fired on all cylinders when he first broke the partnership to send Kitime packing home and then started to give a torrid time to the South African batting. Two wickets in the 39th over saw him destroy the Proteas defense as they lost control, losing seven wickets for just 49 runs. From 138/3 the entire team was dismissed for 187. Raj Bawa was also not sitting back in the bowling department as he scalped four wickets to see India start on a winning note.&nbsp;After a bright start, The Men in Blue next take on Ireland on Wednesday (January 19) at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad. Ireland also started their campaign with a win against Uganda by 39 runs. South Africa and Uganda will meet on Tuesday (January 18) in the other group B encounter.

Vicky Ostwal's fifer, Yash Dhull's 82 help India crush South Africa in their U-19 World Cup opener

Australia U-19 cricket team secured the third spot in the ICC U-19 World Cup after defeating Afghanistan U-19 by 2 wickets in a thrilling match that had taken place on Friday (February 4).&nbsp;Batting collapseBatting first, Afghanistan had registered a mere total of 201 runs on the board. Australia looked set to reach the score comfortably after they lost their second wicket at 113 but a batting collapse saw the Aussies lose 7 wickets within a span of just 83 runs.&nbsp;&nbsp;There was at a stage when Australia needed only nine runs with five wickets in hand but a batting disaster saw the game go down to the final over of the innings but eventually Australia won the match with 5 balls remaining.&nbsp;&nbsp;Earlier, Afghanistan had a poor start to their batting as they lost five wickets with just 85 runs on the board. At one point, Afghanistan were at 85 for 2 but a dismal batting show saw the Afghanistan team lose their next three wickets within a span of just 10 runs.&nbsp;Iajz Ahmad Ahmadzai played a crucial knock of 81 runs off 79 balls to help his side in reaching a respectable total. In the penultimate over of the innings, he was dismissed by Australia pacer William Salzmann.&nbsp;The 18-year-old right-arm pacer picked up three wickets in the match. On the other hand, Nivethan Radhakrishnan gave Salzmann a good support by scalping three wickets as well.&nbsp;The run chaseIn reply, Aussie opener Campbell Kellaway started the innings convincingly and scored a half century (51 runs off 82 balls) and later all-rounder Radhakrishnan played a vital knock of 66 runs off 96 balls. But a horrible Australia batting collapse almost helped the Afghanistan team in winning the match. At one point Aussies needed 40 runs to win off the final 10 overs but from there the game had a dramatic twist.&nbsp;Ultimately, the match came down to the final over with just two runs required and Australia bowler Josh Garner smashed a boundary on the first ball to clinch a thrilling victory for his side.&nbsp;For Afghanistan, their left-arm bowler Nangeyalia Kharote picked up three wickets as Shahidullah Hasani and Noor Ahmad claimed two wickets each.&nbsp;

Australia survive late scare to secure nail-biting victory against Afghanistan in U-19 World Cup third-place playoff

The Under-19 ICC World Cup 2022 final between India and England is about to start within a few hours. Team India look confident to lift the prestigious trophy for the fifth time while England on the other hand have a challenge and they are ready to face a very strong team. The Indian team will surely not want to make the mistake of taking the English team lightly.&nbsp;&nbsp;The challengesWhenever Team India will remember this U-19 World Cup edition of 2022, it will be recalled as nothing less than a tough battle for them because the Indian players kept on moving ahead in the tournament even when the team members were battling the Covid-19 virus and most importantly they kept on performing well and continued to win vital matches.&nbsp;In a situation like this, before the final match, captain of the India U-19 team and Delhi-born batter, Yash Dhull gave &nbsp;a big statement about the preparations of the team. At the same time, Dhull has shared the message he got during the conversation with Virat Kohli and what he thinks now.&nbsp;“Virat Kohli gave us his best wishes for the final. We got confidence from that, the morale increases when a senior player like him talks to you. He told us how we can execute our plans and he told us about the basics of the game, it was a nice interaction with him," Dhull recalled during a virtual press conference.&nbsp;Preparations and mindsetWhile talking about the morale and mindset of the team, Dhull said that the “morale is high” and the players “will enter the contest with a positive frame of mind.”&nbsp;“The morale is high, everyone is excited about the game. We will enter the contest with a positive frame of mind. England played a close match against Afghanistan, we will make our own game plans. We will look to carry our form into the final. Our spinners are nice, we will look to execute our plans.&nbsp;"Everyone is ready to give their 100 per cent, we will enter the final with a positive mindset. We are here to represent the country. We have gotten more experienced, we now know the value of time and how to prepare mentally for big games. Our game has also improved, we have learnt how to deal with pressure," he added.

'The morale increases when a senior player like him talks to you,' India U-19 skipper Yash Dhull recalls interaction with Virat Kohli

It has been nothing less than a sensational run for India Under-19 skipper Yash Dhull in the ICC U-19 World Cup 2022. Leading the team successfully to record fifth World Cup title is undoubtedly the stuff dreams are made of but there are more dimensions to Dhull that make him a future prospect.&nbsp;&nbsp;Showcasing terrific batting skills has been another significant point of Dhull that cannot be overlooked at all. The Delhi-born batter could not carry his semi-final and contributed with a 17-run knock in the 46-run partnership for the third wicket against England in the ICC U-19 World Cup 2022 final. However, he showed his class in the semi-final clash against Australia with a record-equalling 110-run knock. &nbsp;&nbsp;The backgroundBefore becoming the leader of the Indian side, Dhull had played in multiple age-group tournaments. Previously, during one particular U-19 event, in Nepal, 15-year-old Dhull had bagged the player of the series award as well.&nbsp;Later, in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, which was played in 2021, Dhull scored 302 runs in five games for the Delhi state team, at an average of 75.50 for his side.&nbsp;World Cup journeyThe 19-year-old skipper started the World Cup on a positive note after he scored 82 runs off 100 balls against South Africa in the first match of the tournament. Indian team eventually managed to secure a 45-run victory in the match.&nbsp;In the second match of the event, India did win the match against Ireland but they did not have skipper Dhull in the squad as he missed out on the game after testing positive for the Covid-19 virus.&nbsp;&nbsp;But the virus could not do much damage to Dhull’s batting and certainly there was no change in his mindset either. After recovering and regaining full fitness, Dhull was back to the field against Bangladesh in the quarter-final. The Indian bowling lineup did a tremendous job to restrict the defending champions for a paltry total of 111 runs in 37.1 overs.&nbsp;&nbsp;In reply, India reached the target with 115 balls remaining and skipper Dhull contributed with an unbeaten 20 off 26 balls.&nbsp;But he probably had kept his best performance in reserve and was waiting for the right moment to unleash it. In the semi-final against Australia, Dhull played a terrific innings of 110 runs off 110 balls as Indian team reached a formidable total of 290 runs for five wickets in 50 overs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dhull came down to bat when his side were reeling at 37/2 in 12.3 overs. He shared a superb partnership of 204 runs off 200 balls along with Shaik Rasheed (94 runs off 108 balls) to help India put on a good total. Dhull showed maturity and remarkable composure during his innings as he became only the third Indian skipper to hit a ton in the U-19 World Cup and in doing so, Dhull joined an elite list which was occupied by Virat Kohli and Unmukt Chand.&nbsp;Eventually, Indian team won the match by 96 runs and secured their place for the final.&nbsp;In the final gameIn the final match, Dhull could not perform to the best of his abilities with the bat. He was spot on with his bowling changes and field settings `but could score only 17 runs in the tricky run chase.&nbsp;&nbsp;It is difficult to say whether Dhull’s victory in the U-19 World Cup will be remembered as the best or not but it is needless to say that his leadership and batting will be remembered by the fans and followers of the game for a long time.&nbsp;

Under-19 World Cup: The boy from Delhi who led Indian team to glory in West Indies

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