India were reeling at 40-4 when Sachin Dhas walked in. Uday Saharan, the captain, was on 4 off 15 balls at the time and was looking very uncomfortable. Dhas, however, was unperturbed. At 48-4, he played a pull over mid-wicket that was picture perfect. Rather, it was the shot of a man in control and with a kind of arrogance that pegged South Africa back. The transfer of weight, the swivel, and the perfect timing. Dhas had started to establish himself in the middle and, in doing so, given the Indian innings some much-needed oxygen. Scoring at more than a run a ball, he made sure that Saharan could go a little slow, but the asking rate was never beyond control. In the process, he played some breathtaking shots all over the park.
Unlike the game against Nepal, this was a World Cup semi-final and the opponents were South Africa, the hosts. The pressure was very much on Dhas. Another wicket then, and India would have been in a huge mess and possibly missed out on a chance to make the final. In every sense, there was pressure. And yet, Dhas batted with a kind of temperament that showed no anxiety. Even Kwena Maphaka, who was getting the ball to do all sorts of things at the start, wasn’t effective against Dhas. When he finally got the wicket, the match was beyond South Africa, with Saharan in his groove.
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Dhas, most would agree, has a kind of lazy elegance about him. That extra second to get into position and play the ball. What he also has is temperament. In the first few matches, he hardly got balls to play. Little cameos at the end, and he was the designated finisher for the team. But it was against Nepal, with India under the pump, that Dhas got an opportunity to showcase his class. Again in the company of his captain, his hundred made sure India reached 297-5 and made the semi-final. And it was a repeat today. Under pressure in a high-voltage semi-final, he had to come out when his team were staring down the barrel. One mistake and the World Cup dream would be over. The South Africans were asking questions, and India badly needed answers. Dhas provided them. With poise and confidence, he was in control from the very start of his innings. The false shot on 96 may have robbed him of a second consecutive hundred, but his effort was good enough for India to make the final.
While we celebrate Dhas, a word on Saharan is also in order. He started nervously and was visibly tense with wickets falling at the other end. He was on 26 off 65 balls at one stage, but gradually, however, he started to take control. Once Dhas got out with 40 still to get, he took charge. While the six hit by Raj Limbani was a release shot, Saharan being there was a huge plus for India. And when he was eventually run out with a single to get, the match was in the bag. It was a captain’s knock, and it allowed Dhas to flourish and go about his job without having to worry about the other end.
India, who went into the tournament with many unanswered questions and a poor Asia Cup, are in yet another U-19 final. And with Dhas and Saharan batting the way they are and the bowling coming good almost every game, it could well be that India’s enviable record in this tournament gets better in a couple of days time.
For the moment though, it’s about Dhas and Saharan. Named after Sachin Tendulkar by a father who idolised Sunil Gavaskar, Dhas has indeed made both of those legends happy. Along with millions who watched the birth of a new star.
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