Prithvi Shaw and Co. did us Indians proud by yet again re-establishing firmly, that India really is here to rule the Cricket world.
The U-19 team led by Prithvi Shaw defeated Australia by eight wickets to clinch the World Cup title for the fourth time.
And Then There Were Eleven
As pointed out by cricket experts and connoisseurs, the team looked super confident and experienced in the field. Unmukt Chand had led the chase with a stellar century in the previous final, and on Saturday another Delhi boy, Manjot Kalra led us to victory with an unbeaten 101 off 102 balls in the final.
The Indian team was absolutely glorious and at its finest, because numbers don’t lie. India held the crown both in batting and bowling charts – with them topping the batting average (44.53) as well as the batting strike rate (84.61).
The batting display was very compelling too because having played the highest number of matches the team lost the fewest wickets (28). If the hemorrhage of runs from bats wasn’t enough, we also dominated on all the three bowling parameters – average (15.72), strike rate (25.7) and economy rate (3.66).
What The Captain Had To Say
When the reporters caught an off-guard Prithvi, the 18-year-old got emotional saying how he was indebted to his teammates, Dravid and the support staff for this win.
“We were waiting for this tournament. We have played together for 1-2 years. As a captain, I have been backed. Whenever I was under pressure, the team backed me (rallied around me)” he said, which says a lot about how calmly this young brigade carried itself in something as big and imposing as a World Cup final.
He didn’t waste a moment to express his gratitude towards the Indian fans too who cheered for the team since the very first ball.
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The “Wall” Off the Pitch
The guys did a commendable job but they themselves admit that it couldn’t have been possible without the guidance of the famous former Indian Cricketer, Rahul Dravid as their coach.
However being the humble guy he is, Dravid underestimates his hard work and says that he tends to be in limelight unnecessarily, and all this attention should be directed at the players instead.
Rahul Dravid is a gift for all the youngsters. His deep, invaluable insight into every player’s game is what made each player overcome his weaknesses and tap into his strengths.
Maybe the guys imbibed such calm and collected composure from Dravid only because everyone was surprised to see their discipline and commitment towards the game.
Sources say that Dravid told the boys to cherish the moment but also asked them not to hurl abuse or insult towards their opponents. He firmly believed that victory could be celebrated politely too.
Transforming these local track bullies into a bunch of cricketers who clearly ruled on the foreign pitches, Dravid has come a long way.
BCCI: A Hero Too
“I don’t think young players in any other cricketing environment get to play as much cricket as they do in India. Not surprised they look so ready,” says the Cricket analyst Harsha Bhogle which is a testimony to the fact that BCCI has always believed in nurturing fresh, energetic and young talent.
BCCI provides a lot of experience to these youngsters and helps in refining their game by hosting a lot of local Cricket tournaments like the IPL, Ranji Trophy and the Duleep Trophy which helps in getting these players ready to play on international grounds. The cricketing body also announced prize money for the victorious India U19 team to reward their hard work.
Accolades Haven’t Stopped Pouring In
Naturally, ecstatic fans and celebrity went on the overdrive (pun totally intended) in celebrating the win. From Shri Ram Nath Kovind to Virendra Sehwag, everyone is congratulating the team on their commendable performance and has been reveling in pride.
“It’s not a memory that defines them and they will have a lot more bigger and better memories as they go on ahead in their careers,” says a proud Dravid and we couldn’t agree to it more.
They came, they saw, they conquered.
The Indian juniors have clearly shown their grit and wit on the pitch, maturity that excels beyond their age and assured us of a brighter and more embellished future for Indian Cricket in the upcoming years.
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: Cricbuzz, News18, Firstpost
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