As Sunday, February 11 approaches, the dreams of countless young Indian cricketers, aged 18 and 19, will hang in the balance. They are poised to chase a historic sixth Under-19 World Cup title as they prepare to confront Australia in the grand finale. Back on November 19 of the previous year, an Australian team left Rohit Sharma and his squad emotionally shattered on the global stage. For rising stars like Uday Saharan, Sachin Dhas, Musheer Khan, and Saumykumar Pandey, defeating an Australian team would be an especially gratifying achievement.
We are not thinking about revenge: Uday Saharan
"No, we are not thinking about revenge. We are firmly focussed on present and we neither want to dwell on past or look too far ahead," skipper Saharan recently told PTI Bhasha in Benoni.
Australia's formidable quartet
Australia boast a formidable quartet that could pose challenges for India, comprising skipper Hugh Weibgen, opener Harry Dixon, and seamers Tom Straker and Callum Vidler, all of whom have been consistent performers throughout this tournament.
Having secured victories over Australia in the 2012 and 2018 finals, India U-19 enters this edition's title match as the favorites once again.
India's U-19 team has long been a dominant force in age-group cricket, a testament to the abundance of talent the country consistently produces. Their ninth appearance in a global final serves as evidence of the robust system that has been in place for the past two decades.
Since 2016, India U-19s have featured in every final, winning the tournaments in 2018 and 2022 while finishing as runners-up in 2016 and 2020.
Since Virat Kohli's team clinched the trophy in 2008, the U-19 World Cup has garnered significant attention, with increased curiosity fueled by live TV coverage and streaming.
U-19 WC's shining stars
The U-19 World Cup has served as a platform for emerging talents such as Yuvraj Singh, Mohammed Kaif, Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, among others, who have ascended through the ranks.
However, the stark reality reveals that a considerably larger number have failed to ascend to the elite ranks after initial acclaim.
From Reetinder Singh Sodhi and Gaurav Dhiman in the early 2000s to more recent examples like Unmukt Chand, Harmeet Singh, Vijay Zol, Sandeep Sharma, Ajitesh Argal, Kamal Passi, Siddharth Kaul, Smit Patel, Ravikant Singh, and Kamlesh Nagarkoti, the list is extensive.
It's often overlooked that transitioning from U-19 cricket to senior domestic cricket is a significant leap, where dominating players from other nations at the age-group level, while commendable, doesn't necessarily translate into success.
The rapid ascent to stardom can foster a false sense of confidence, leading to difficulties in replicating that success at the senior level. Players like Prithvi Shaw, who experienced a setback in their careers and are striving for resurgence, and others like Yash Dhull, who are grappling with the challenges of senior-level cricket, exemplify this trend.
Saharan led from the front
In truth, the current team led by Saharan didn't initially appear formidable, as evidenced by their failure to reach the final of the U-19 Asia Cup a few months ago. However, they have now found their rhythm, led by Saharan himself, who leads the batting charts with 389 runs. With each match, the team's performance has improved, with their only real test coming in the semifinals, where they narrowly defeated hosts South Africa by a single wicket.
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While the verdict is still pending on how many of them will truly succeed at the highest level, two standout players have emerged: young Maharashtra batsman Dhas, who has excelled in the role of a finisher, and left-arm spinner Saumy Pandey, who has already claimed 17 wickets in the tournament.
Dhas missed out on an IPL contract due to his lack of experience at the senior level, rendering him ineligible for the auction. Nevertheless, he stands out as a batsman with the required temperament for the highest echelons of the sport.
Saharan's batting style leans more towards accumulation, while Musheer Khan, younger brother of Sarfaraz Khan and the team's second-highest run-scorer, also offers utility as a proficient left-arm spinner.
While right-arm pacer Raj Limbani and left-arm seamer Naman Tiwari have proven effective, they still have some way to go before being considered ready for the next level.
However, come Sunday, their collective best will be more than sufficient at this level of competition.
India's squad
Uday Saharan (C), Arshin Kulkarni, Adarsh Singh, Rudra Mayur Patel, Sachin Dhas, Priyanshu Moliya, Musheer Khan, Aravelly Avanish Rao (WK), Saumy Kumar Pandey (VC), Murugan Abhishek, Innesh Mahajan (WK), Dhanush Gowda, Aaradhya Shukla, Raj Limbani, Naman Tiwari.
Australia's squad
Hugh Weibgen (C), Lachlan Aitken, Charlie Anderson, Harkirat Bajwa, Mahli Beardman, Tom Campbell, Harry Dixon, Ryan Hicks (wk), Sam Konstas, Rafael MacMillan, Aidan O'Connor, Harjas Singh, Tom Straker, Callum Vidler, Ollie Peake.
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