ICC World Cup 2022: India having a fantastic season in this edition of the U-19 World Cup has finished at the top where they probably belonged right from the start.
This is being their fifth title starting from 2000. Mohammed Kaif was the leader there and Yuvraj Singh supported him. Virat Kohli then brought India their second title and then Unmukt Chand followed it with another title. Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill gave India the fourth.
A tough match for England who fought hard but not enough to push back India. Batting first, England went down Early. Jacob Bethell who has been hammering runs at a good rate couldn’t stay long against Ravi Kumar. The skipper Tom Prest had no idea how the ball moved and was out for a duck.
For India, then came Raj Bawa to start a spell that would break records. His five wickets haul giving only 31 runs is by far the best bowling figure in the finals. He was just unplayable. “He definitely deserved this wicket,” said the commentator when he picked his first wicket.
James Rew played an innings of his life picking England up from a difficult situation. He deserved a hundred without any doubt but unfortunately, Ravi Kumar reduced his journey to just 95 runs.
India was in total control and if James Sales wouldn’t show up it would be difficult for England to even reach 150 runs. However, Sales pushed the English score to 189.
Defending a low total, England got Angrish Raghuvanshi for a duck and the hope lifted high. However, Shaik Rasheed followed a 70 runs knock at the semifinals with yet another 50 here.
Yash Dhull and Harnoor Singh did get starts but couldn’t convert. Joshua Boyden and James Sales were bowling some brilliant spells.
The real knock came from Nishant Sindhu and Raj Angad Bawa. Their partnership of 67 runs took the game away from England and dropped all the hopes of English fans.
Now what for India?
Okay, India has won their fifth u-19 title but what now? It happens that IPL auction is around this corner and nowadays youngsters are getting many opportunities.
Eight Indian youngsters are registered to be auctioned for the next IPL season.
The skipper, Yash Dhull, Lefty opener Harnoor Singh, Raj Bawa, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Kaushal Tambe, Aneeshwar Gautam, Vicky Ostwal, and Vasu Vats.
Rajasthan Royals will be in action picking up youngsters and grooming them. Two new franchises will be gunning for them as they will need players to become their next faces.
