Hyderabad: Team India has dominated last decade in World cricket and so has India's U-19 team. And now India is just one win away from winning yet another U-19 World Cup. India will take on Bangladesh in the final of the mega event on Sunday, February 9.
India has so far won four U-19 World Cup under the leadership of Mohammad Kaif, Virat Kohli, Unmukt Chand and Prithvi Shaw. It's not just about winning the WC but the event has helped the nation find the future stars of the game who will one day represent India on the highest level.
So, Let's have a look at Indian players from this side who can go on to be the next big thing in Indian cricket.
1. Priyam Garg
The India U-19 captain, Priyam Garg is just one step away from winning the title and writing his name in the history books. Except for Unmukt Chand every WC winning India U-19 skipper went on to represent India senior team and Garg will also aim for the same. The right-hand batsman have scored two fifty-plus scores for his side in the WC. He was sold to Sunrisers Hyderabad for INR 1.9 crore in IPL auction.
Batting at Nos. 3 and 4, Garg has scored runs across formats at the domestic level and goes into the tournament with a century and a half-century, both against South Africa U-19.
India is unbeaten in the tournament and will look to defend the trophy under Priyam's captainship.
2. Ravi Bishnoi
World cricket is revolving around leg spinners and Ravi Bishnoi is taking advantage of that. The leggy is the most successful Indian bowler in the tournament and is a nightmare for the opponent. He is captain's go-to bowler every time the team need wickets.
He has been among the wickets in the U-19 bilateral and quadrangular series in South Africa, while the IPL contract with Kings XI Punjab should further whet his appetite for wickets.
Bishnoi, who has a strike rate of 19.3, has two four-wicket hauls so far and is likely to continue with spinning a web around batsmen in the final in his inimitable dynamic ways. Ravi will eye to extend his golden run in final and win the trophy for the team.
3. Kartik Tyagi
Even though the Indian senior team have many pace bowlers in it who are dominating the opposition it is very rare to see a real quick bowler in the Indian side. Kartik Tyagi is one of those rare bowlers. The young speedster has been in top form through the tournament making life hell for batsmen. Tyagi, who has the ability to bowl fast, can bowl toe crushing yorkers.
His opening spell against Australia was one of the best phases of play for India as he single-handedly broke set them up for the win. With a strike rate of 18.7 and speeds in excess of 145 kph one can see why Garg often turns to him in times of trouble.
In the 2020 IPL auction, he was bought by the Rajasthan Royals ahead of the 2020 Indian Premier League.
4. Yashasvi Jaiswal
Yashasvi is the most famous teenager in India right now. At the age of 18, he has become a household name and many have started comparing him with Yuvraj Singh.
Yashasvi has owned this edition of the U-19 World Cup. The Indian opener has made the World Cup his own. He has already scored 312 runs which also includes a superb hundred in the semifinals against arch-rivals Pakistan.
The left-hand batsman is opening the batting for India and has only been dismissed twice in the tournament and he will play a key role if India are to beat Bangladesh in the final.
At the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy, Jaiswal hit gold with the bat scoring lots of runs. He is surely going to be a sensation in his country if he scores big in this Under-19 World Cup. The Mumbai opener became the youngest to score a double ton in the history of List A cricket.
Jaiswal has become a ‘Crorepati’ with his recent IPL contract with Rajasthan Royal who bought the southpaw for 2.4 Crore INR for IPL 2020. With an outstanding average of 62 in 20 Youth ODIs for India Under-19, he may be a strong contender in the senior Indian cricket side in coming years.
