Defending champions will enter the Under-19 World Cup 2024 as the most successful side in the history of the tournament. The record five-time Under-19 World Cup champions won their first title in 2000 and asserted their dominance over more than a couple of decades.
Here is a look at India’s Under-19 World Cup triumphs –
Kaif & Co. create history
Under the leadership of Mohammad Kaif, India reached the final for the first time. Shalabh Srivastava's three-wicket haul helped India bowl out Sri Lanka for 178 in the penultimate over. Jehan Mubarak scored 58 before losing his wicket to Kaif. In the run chase, India lost the first four wickets at regular intervals. Reetinder Sodhi and Niraj Patel's unbeaten 74-run stand for the fifth wicket helped India chase down the target with 9.2 overs to spare.
Sodhi was named ‘Player of the match’ for the unbeaten 39 and economical bowling whereas Yuvraj Singh was adjudged 'Player of the tournament' for 203 runs and 12 wickets.
Kohli’s men win low-scoring encounter
Three editions later, India qualified for the final again. Virat Kohli was leading the side but could not make much of an impact as India were bowled out for 158 by South Africa in the 46th over. Tanmay Srivastava was the top-scored with 46 runs from 74 balls. Indian bowlers were clinical in their approach as they reduced South Africa to 4/22 in the 11th over. Reeza Hendricks and skipper Wayne Parnell tried to revive the run chase but could not. In a rain-affected encounter where the target was revised to 116 from 25 overs, South Africa managed to post 103/8 and lost the match by 12 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method.
India’s first centurion in the final
In 2012, India faced the defending champions Australia in the final. It can be classified as the battle of the two captains. After Sandeep Sharma's four-fer, skipper William Bosisto's unbeaten 87 helped Australia post 225/8. Indian captain Unmukt Chand anchored the run chase. Chand's unbeaten 111 combined with Smit Patel's 62-run knock helped India chase down the total with 14 balls to spare and six wickets in hand. Chand's knock was studded with seven fours and six sixes.
India outclass Aussies
In 2018, once again India faced a familiar foe. Australia were bowled out for 216. Jonathan Merlo stood out with a 76-run knock. In the run chase, India lost skipper Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill but Manjot Kalra's unbeaten 101 and wicketkeeper-batter Harvik Desai's 47 helped India chase down the target in the 39th over.
Dhull’s brigade makes it five
India faced England in the final, where England aimed to secure their first title victory since 1998. Despite James Rew's impressive 95-run performance, Indian bowlers effectively limited England from posting a substantial total. Ravi Kumar took four wickets, while Raj Bawa achieved a remarkable five-wicket haul. England's innings concluded at 189 runs in 44.5 overs. During the run chase, Indian batters encountered difficulties in scoring freely. Shaik Rasheed contributed a half-century but was dismissed halfway through the innings. Ultimately, Nishant Sindhu's unbeaten fifty and Dinesh Bana's brief but impactful innings guided India to a four-wicket victory with 14 balls to spare.
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