A day after the World Cup squad announcement grabbed the headlines with discussions around Shubman Gill’s exclusion, Jitesh Sharma being overlooked and Ishan Kishan’s return, attention moved to the U-19 Asia Cup final. The tournament had largely remained out of focus for both spectators and the media, as it coincided with other bilateral series such as India versus South Africa and the Ashes. However, the final drew widespread attention as arch-rivals India and Pakistan faced each other once again, with the added significance of the trophy at stake.
From the moment the match began at Dubai’s ICC Academy, the final started trending. Pakistan outplayed a strong Indian outfit to claim the title. India came into the game unbeaten in the group stages, where they had defeated Pakistan. Sameer Minhas was the chief architect of Pakistan’s 191-run win with his sensational knock of 172. Having dominated the tournament, the Ayush Mhatre-led side fell short by a significant margin in the final. The bowlers leaked too many runs, lacked execution, and the batting then imploded. Safe to say, it was an off day for the young Indian brigade. The pressure of a big final against arguably their biggest rivals got the better of Mhatre and his boys.
Soon after India’s loss, social media erupted, particularly with Indian supporters raising all kinds of questions. One of them was: is this team good enough to win the World Cup? The U-19 World Cup is set to begin next month in Zimbabwe, and one of the title contenders has just lost a major final. Questions will inevitably be asked, but at the same time, it is important to evaluate how the team has performed overall.
Twice in the Asia Cup, India breached the 400-run mark, and on three occasions they successfully defended targets. Before the eight-team tournament began, they whitewashed defending champions Australia 3–0 in the youth ODI series and won the youth Test series 2–0. In England, the same team won the five-match youth ODI series and drew the two-match youth Test series. The report card of the India U-19 team this year has been very impressive.
Yes, they suffered a heavy defeat in the final, but that does not define this side. It remains a talented and capable team, one that can draw valuable lessons from the setback. History shows that the best teams are those that reflect, adapt and come back stronger.
India’s next major challenge is the World Cup. While the squad is yet to be announced, it is expected to closely resemble the group that featured in the Asia Cup. Mhatre and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi have gained valuable experience by playing at the senior level and in the IPL. In Aaron George, Vihaan Malhotra, Vedant Trivedi and Abhigyan Kundu, India have reliable batters. Kishan Kumar Singh, Udhav Mohan and Henil Patel are the go-to options for Mhatre with the new ball. Deepesh Devendran is an X-factor who could be deployed as a middle-order enforcer in the World Cup. The spin department also looks well settled, with Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan Patel and Naman Pushpak forming a versatile spin trio.
Almost all the bases are covered. The junior selection committee has done a remarkable job in identifying the best available talent in India.
What these young and talented players now need is the right guidance to manage their game and cope with the rising pressure as the World Cup draws closer. The squad is rich in skill, and if they function cohesively as a unit, they have the potential to go deep into the tournament. Ultimately, their fortunes in the marquee event will hinge on how effectively they handle high-pressure situations.
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