India has once again reached the Under-19 World Cup final, their tenth appearance in the showpiece event of the tournament. Their victory over Afghanistan in the semi-final was not just a result; it was a testament to how calmly and confidently this team handles high-pressure situations. Now they face England in the final, with both teams undefeated and brimming with confidence. This sets the stage for a thrilling encounter between two teams that have performed exceptionally well throughout the tournament.
A look at India's record in Under-19 World Cup finals is certainly warranted.2000 Under-19 World Cup Final (India won by 6 wickets)
In 2000, the Indian team won their first Under-19 World Cup title, defeating Sri Lanka in the final. They chased down a target of 179 runs in 40 overs, bringing glory to the nation. The only half-century in the final was scored by Jehan Mubarak, after which Shalabh Srivastava's three wickets restricted Sri Lanka to 178 runs in their first innings. Mohammad Kaif's calm leadership was commendable, but the real star was Yuvraj Singh, whose all-round performance announced the arrival of a generational talent. Many experts still consider this team a benchmark for India's modern youth cricket structure.
2006 Under-19 World Cup Final (India lost by 38 runs)
In the low-scoring final of the 2006 Under-19 World Cup, India suffered a defeat at the hands of their arch-rivals, Pakistan. Ravindra Jadeja and Piyush Chawla combined to take 7 wickets, restricting Pakistan to just 109 runs. What followed was deeply disappointing. Chasing a small target, India were bowled out for a mere 71 runs. Despite having players like Cheteshwar Pujara, who was the tournament's leading run-scorer, India crumbled badly while chasing a modest total. It was one of those days when nothing went right.
2008 Under-19 World Cup Final (India won by 12 runs by D/L method)
The match in Kuala Lumpur was threatened by rain, but India delivered a superb performance under pressure. Batting first, India scored 159 runs, but the match was shortened due to inclement weather. Chasing a revised target of 116 runs in 25 overs, South Africa fell short by 12 runs, as the Indian bowlers held their nerve. Captain Virat Kohli played a crucial role in the rain-affected, tense final, intelligently utilizing his team's resources and guiding India to their second Under-19 World Cup title.
2012 Under-19 World Cup Final (India won by 6 wickets)
India achieved one of the most memorable run chases in the history of the Under-19 World Cup. Australia, thanks to captain William Bosisto's 87 runs, set a challenging target of 225 runs in 50 overs in the final. Sandeep Sharma took four wickets for India. In the chase, Unmukt Chand played a magnificent innings, remaining unbeaten on 111 runs, displaying exceptional composure and grace under pressure. He was well supported by Smit Patel, who also remained unbeaten on 62 runs. India chased down the target, scoring 227/4 in 47.4 overs to win their third title, and Chand's innings became one of the finest performances in a final in the tournament's history.
2016 Under-19 World Cup Final (West Indies won by 5 wickets)
India reached the final undefeated, but struggled to find their rhythm with the bat and managed only 145 runs for 9 wickets in their 50 overs. Despite some excellent bowling, the West Indies calmly chased down the target, reaching 146 for 5 in 49.3 overs to secure the victory. Sarfaraz Khan continued his impressive form in the tournament, scoring a half-century in the final. The West Indies' superb fielding and controlled batting proved decisive. Alzarri Joseph and Ryan John each took three wickets, dismantling the Indian batting lineup. Kacey Carty's unbeaten 52 guided his team to victory, making it a memorable year for the Caribbean nation.
2018 Under-19 World Cup Final (India won by 8 wickets)
India dominated the 2018 final. Australia were bowled out for 216 in 47.2 overs, as the Indian bowlers maintained tight control throughout the innings. The chase was superb. Manjot Kalra scored an unbeaten century, and India chased down the target of 220 runs in just 38.5 overs, losing only two wickets. Under the captaincy of Prithvi Shaw, India delivered a brilliant performance to win their fourth Under-19 World Cup title. Manjot Kalra was named Man of the Match, while Shubman Gill received the Man of the Tournament award for his consistently outstanding performances.
2020 Under-19 World Cup Final (Bangladesh won by 3 wickets by the D/L method)
India were bowled out for 177 in 47.2 overs, with Yashasvi Jaiswal once again delivering a stellar performance and leaving his mark on the final. The left-handed batsman played a magnificent innings of 88 runs in the final. Rain interrupted the match, leading to a revised target for Bangladesh. Bangladesh maintained their composure during the chase and made history by reaching 170 runs in 42.1 overs. Ravi Bishnoi troubled Bangladesh with his spell of 4 wickets for 30 runs, but he couldn't prevent them from securing the victory. It was a heartbreaking defeat for India, a match that was incredibly close and full of twists and turns.
2022 Under-19 World Cup Final (India won by 4 wickets)
Thanks to a brilliant bowling performance from India, England were bowled out for 189 runs in 44.5 overs. James Rew top-scored with 95 runs, while Raj Bawa and Ravi Kumar took 5 and 4 wickets respectively. Sensible batting and crucial contributions in the middle overs helped England reach a respectable total. India chased down the target of 195/6 in 47.4 overs. Sheikh Rasheed and Nishant Sindhu scored half-centuries, while Raj Bawa finished the innings in style. Raj Bawa's outstanding all-round performance in the final was widely praised, and he was rightly chosen as the Man of the Match. Under the captaincy of Yash Dhull, India won their fifth Under-19 World Cup title.
2024 Under-19 World Cup Final (Australia won by 79 runs)
Australia posted a formidable score of 253/7 in 50 overs, putting India under pressure right from the start. Despite a valiant effort from the lower-order batsmen, India were all out for 174 in 43.5 overs. Australia's disciplined bowling and batting depth proved decisive, denying India their sixth title, but their consistent strong performance in reaching the final once again demonstrated their continued dominance.
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