Uday Saharan-led India U19 are set to face Australia U19 in the ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 final at Willowmoore Park, Benoni. This marks India’s ninth appearance in the event’s summit clash. Out of eight matches played, India have secured victory in five and suffered three defeats, establishing them as the most successful team in tournament history. Australia, with three titles, hold the second-best record. Let’s revisit India’s performances in the Under 19 World Cup finals:
In the 2000 Under 19 World Cup, India made their debut in the final, securing a convincing victory over Sri Lanka in Colombo under the captaincy of Mohammad Kaif. Choosing to bowl first, India dismissed Sri Lanka for 178 and successfully chased the target in 40.4 overs with 6 wickets in hand, featuring the notable presence of Yuvraj Singh in the team.
In 2006, India’s second appearance in the Under 19 World Cup final ended in a 38-run loss to arch-rivals Pakistan in Colombo. Ravikant Shukla captained the Indian side, which included players like Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja, and Piyush Chawla. Pakistan posted 109, and India was bowled out for 71.
The 2008 edition marked India’s third entry into the final, resulting in a 12-run loss (DLS method) against South Africa in Kuala Lumpur. Virat Kohli led the team, posting 159, and restricting South Africa to 103 for 8. Saurabh Tiwary, Manish Pandey, Ravindra Jadeja, and Siddarth Kaul were notable members of the squad.
In 2012, India secured their third title by defeating Australia in the final in Townsville. Opting to bowl first, India restricted Australia to 225 for 8, chasing down the target in 47.4 overs with 6 wickets in hand. Captain Unmukt Chand’s unbeaten 111 played a pivotal role, with contributions from Hanuma Vihari and Sandeep Sharma.
Continuous U19 World Cup Final Appearances For India
From 2016 onwards, India consistently reached the final of the Under 19 World Cup. In 2016, Ishan Kishan led the team in a match against West Indies in Mirpur, where India posted 145, but West Indies chased it down in 49.3 overs. Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Sarfaraz Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, and Avesh Khan were key players.
The 2018 final against Australia in Mount Maunganui saw India dominating the match. Electing to bat first, Australia posted 216, and India chased it down in 38.5 overs under the captaincy of Prithvi Shaw, featuring Shubman Gill and Shivam Mavi.
In the 2020 edition, India faced a three-wicket loss (DLS method) to Bangladesh in a low-scoring thriller in Potchefstroom. Batting first, India were bowled out for 177, and Bangladesh chased down the revised target of 170 in 42.1 overs. Priyam Garg captained the team with stars like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Dhruv Jurel, and Ravi Bishnoi.
In 2022, India defeated England in the summit clash to secure a record-extending fifth title. Opting to bat first, England posted 189 all out, and the Yash Dhull-led side chased it down in 47.4 overs. Players like Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Raj Bawa were crucial contributors to the victory.