2018 Under-19 World Cup Final, India vs Australia: Things which went right for India

The Prithvi Shaw-led Team India remained unbeaten in the tournament as they cruised to a comfortable eight-wicket win over Australia in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup final at Mount Maunganui on Saturday.

Chasing 217 to win, India reached the target with 67 balls remaining and became the only side to win the trophy four times.

Congratulations India!#U19CWC 🏆 pic.twitter.com/sy0VJmrCqW

— ICC (@ICC) February 3, 2018

Now, let us have a look at everything that went right for U-19 champions India.

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#5 Restricting Australia to 216

Doesn't matter if you are batting first or second, it is always important to strike at regular intervals to keep the opposition's batsmen under check and slow down the scoring rate.

At one stage, riding on Jonathan Merlo's fighting knock, Australia definitely looked on course for a score of 250, or possibly more, but, a stellar comeback by the Indian bowlers restricted their opponents to 216 in 47.2 overs.

The Indian bowlers first ran through Australia's top-order, then kept striking at regular intervals and did not let the batsmen accelerate the scoring rate.

Australia could add only 33 runs for their last five wickets in their final eight overs courtesy of India's sharp fielding and intelligent bowling.

Anukul Roy finished with 2-32 in his 7 overs, equalling Qais Ahmad of Afghanistan and Canadian Faisal Jamkhandi as the leading wicket-takers for the tournament with 14.

The young Indian bowling unit was a menacing one throughout the tournament as none of their opponents could put up a fight against them.

#4 Prithvi Shaw's captaincy

It is very important for a team to have an excellent leader at the helm if they wish to be successful and Prithvi Shaw was just what this Indian team needed.

It is vital for a skipper to lead by example and Shaw did just that. He played to his strengths and made an efficient use of the resources at his disposal.

Even at this young age, the Indian skipper was quite confident in his choices and made the arduous task of leading a team on the international stage look like a cakewalk.

The mental strength of soaking in the pressure and performing at the international stage enabled Shaw to become the fourth Indian skipper to lead his team to U-19 World Cup glory.

#3 Manjot Kalra and Harvik Desai's partnership

Prithvi Shaw departed for 29 and made way for the side’s best batsman, Shubman Gill, who scored three fifties and a ton in the tournament.

Both Gill and Kalra, who have groomed under the tutelage Rahul Dravid, continued to pile on runs and completed their fifty-run partnership as India cruised to 125/1 in 25 overs.

Soon Gill was undone by Param Uppal as for the first time in the tournament he was dismissed for fewer than 50, finishing with an average of 124.

Wicketkeeper Harvik Desai then stepped up and played a vital cameo providing the perfect support for Kalra's fluent century.

Desai (47*) and Kalra's (101*) unbroken partnership, which was worth 89 runs, came at a crucial juncture and led India to a comfortable win.

#2 Opening partnership

Chasing 217 to win, India’s opening batsmen Prithvi Shaw and Manjot Kalra got off to a blistering start as the duo took their side to a total of 23/0 in 4 overs before rain interrupted the play for some time.

After the play resumed, the opening pair did not lose their concentration and continued to pile on runs.

Shaw and Kalra then went on to stitch a 71-run partnership, their 4th 50-run stand in the tournament.

The duo took India to 55/0 in 10 overs to lay a solid foundation for India's run-chase before Shaw was dismissed by Will Sutherland on 29 as Australia tasted their first success with the ball.

India's opening pair was a constant hit throughout the tournament and was one of the main reason behind their team's sheer dominance.

#1 Manjot Kalra's match-winning knock

Manjot Kalra rose up to the big occasion as he became the second Indian player after Unmukt Chand to score a ton in ICC U-19 World Cup final.

Kalra's unbeaten 101 that came off 102-balls, comprising eight fours and three sixes was the highlight of India's innings.

Kalra was involved in three crucial fifty-run partnerships as India chased down Australia's target of 217 in 38.5 overs to lift their record 4th title.

In the first match of the tournament, Manjot scored 86 runs against Australia as he added over 100 runs for the first wicket with Prithvi Shaw.

After failing to perform in a few matches, he scored 47 runs against Pakistan in the semi-final, helping India enter the final.

Just like the Indian cricket team skipper Virat Kohli, Kalra also hails from Delhi and was bought by the Delhi Daredevils in the IPL Auction 2018.