Heroes of U-19 Indian team at the Top End Tri-Series

Young blood of India

India’s U-19 team led by Maharashtra batsman Vijay Zol defeated hosts Australia in the final with a convincing display to win the Top End Series. In doing so, they have carried forward the good work done by the Indian U-19 sides of the past prompting the world to stand up and see.

Greg Chappell has already written about how Australian cricket can learn from India’s organisation at the junior level. While this series was being played, another former captain of the India U-19 side was leading the side in West Indies in the absence of MS Dhoni. The fact that India are excelling at every stage of the game augurs well for the future and some credit must be reserved for people working behind the scene from board officials to selectors to ground staff at all Indian venues.

The series was a Tri-Nation tournament that involved Australia and New Zealand. India won four consecutive group stage matches before inflicting a humiliating defeat upon Australia in the final. The expectation were high from this side but the fact that they were going to play in unfamiliar and hostile conditions meant that such a massive margin was a pleasant surprise.

Indian teams have always struggled in conditions that offer a bit more to fast bowling but the fact that U-19 teams are making these tours means that the transition to the senior side for some of these players will be a lot easier. In the more immediate present, this victory augurs well for India’s preparations for the next U-19 world cup to be held in UAE.

Here is a look at some of the star performers for India at the tournament:

Ankush Bains

The reserve wicket-keeper in this side alongside first preference Sanju Samson was given the job of opening the innings for the U-19 side. The 17-year old who plays for Himachal Pradesh did well to make sure that he covered the line of swing and protected the middle order from being exposed to the first line of bowling.

He delivered in testing conditions scoring 135 runs in the 5 matches that he played scoring at an average of just above 33.00 including a crucial innings of 64 against Australia in the early part of the tournament. He remained undefeated in the final with 40 runs to his name as Indian chased a low total of 76 runs.

Akhil Herwadkar

The 18-year old who hails from Mumbai played consistently at the top of the batting order for India. He made two-half centuries in the series including a match-winning knock of 60 against Australia in 5th match of the tournament. The left-handed batsman was unlucky to get dismissed fro a duck in the final but his contribution to the team in the group stage was significant.

He was part of a number of successful partnerships with captain Vijay Zol. He finished the tournament with a total of 165 runs at at an average of 27.50 in the six matches that he played.

Kuldeep Yadav

The 18-year old left-arm spinner who plays for Uttar Pradesh in Indian domestic cricket and is contracted to the Mumbai Indians finished as India’s highest wicket taker in the tournament. He bowled 32 overs in the 4 matches that he played in the series dismissing nine batsmen with his flight and sharp spin.

The extent to which he deceived the batsmen in Australia is all the more evident when add to those statistics the fact that he was the most economical bowler giving less than 2.00 runs an over. His average was about 6.00. He is a unique commodity in Indian cricket and fans should hope that he matures over the next few years and eventually plays for India.

Deepak Hooda

18-year old Deepak Hooda is a promising right-arm medium pacer who impressed in the tournament picking up 8 wickets in the five matches that he played for the U-19 side. He was consistently good on the tour and never leaked runs as he finished the tournament at an economy rate of about 3.0 runs per over. He averaged 17.00 that is much better than the tournament’s highest wicket taker (Australia’s M.Fotia) and was much more economical too. He bowled a brilliant spell of fast bowling against New Zealand giving a return of 3/26 in India’s fourth consecutive win of the tournament.

Vijay Zol

The Indian captain was one of the two members from the squad that won the u-19 world cup under the leadership of Unmukt Chand. Zol who plays domestic cricket for Mumbai averages 36.00 in the 7 List A matches that he has participated in and is currently contracted to the Royal Challengers of Bangalore. He succeeds a line of U-19 captains who have tasted enormous success and hence he must have been under some pressure.

He lived up to the expectations and ended the tournament as the highest run-scorer and man of the tournament. His dominant innings of 128 of 131 balls that came against New Zealand was the highlight of the series. He contributed 341 runs in the 6 matches that he played at an average of over 68.00.