The biggest contributors in U19 World Cup victory for India

Tauranga: February 3, 2018 is the day when India becomes the most successful team in the Under-19 World Cup history with their fourth title victory in the three-decade long history of the tournament.

India defeated Australia, second time in the biennial tournament this year, with a huge margin of 8 wickets as after a great show by the bowlers, Manjot Kalra scored a memorable hundred to see India over the 217-run target with over 10 overs to spare.

Ishan Porel, Shiva Singh, Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Anukul Roy put up a team effort to bundle up Australian boys for a mere 216 runs in 47.2 overs, and later Manjot and Harvik Desai put up an unbeaten 89-run partnership to help India lift the trophy.

Also Read: Under-19 World Cup: India beats Aussies to lift the trophy

India saw some great performances with bat and ball both throughout the tournament. But the biggest contributors are Shubman Gill with bat and Anukul Roy with ball.

The young lads have attained some phenomenal figures in the tournament. Where Shubman Gill scored 372 runs in 5 innings, Anukul was the highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 14 wickets in six matches.

Shubman Gill - Player of the Tournament

Shubman Gill, who was named 'Player of the Tournament', had the highest average of 124 in the tournament. He remained unbeaten on two occasions and had the highest score of 102* runs. Apart from a 'Bradmanesque' average, he also has an amazing strike-rate of 112.38.

Also Read: When Rahul Dravid’s challenge did wonders to Shubman Gill!

Gill scored three fifties and a century while was dismissed for 31 runs in the final against Australia, which is his only score below 50 runs in the tournament.

His scores in the six matches of the tournament:

63 vs Australia

Did not Bat vs Papua New Guinea

90* vs Zimbabwe

86 vs Bangladesh (Quarter-Final)

102* vs Pakistan (Semi-final)

31 vs Australia (Final)

Anukul Roy

Anukul Roy amazed everyone with his amazing ability to fool the batsmen. He took 14 wickets at an astonishing average of 9.07. His best bowling figure in the tournament was 5/14, and he only conceded 127 runs in the tournament in 33 overs he bowled.

Batsmen from all the teams found it almost impossible to score freely against this left-arm orthodox bowler.

1/36 vs Australia

5/14 vs Papua New Guinea

4/20 vs Zimbabwe

1/14 vs Bangladesh (Quarter-Final)

1/11 vs Pakistan (Semi-final)

2/32 vs Australia (Final)

Apart from these two youngsters, the contributions of skipper Prithvi Shaw (261 at an average of 65.25), Manjot Kalra (252 runs at an average of 84), Kamlesh Nagarkoti (9 wickets at an average of 16.33) and Shivam Mavi (9 wickets at an average of 18.88) were also instrumental in India's record setting victory.

India U-19 Captain Prithvi Shaw with head coach Rahul Dravid (Both holding U19 World Cup trophy)

The role played by Rahul Dravid and his support staff can also not be ruled out in this victory as they not only kept the young players motivated and hungry for wins but also maintained their fitness which was a must for staying unbeaten throughout the tournament.

India won all the matches comprehensively and did not look to be out of the match even for a single over throughout the World Cup.

The winning margin in all six matches of the U19 World Cup 2018:

Group B match: India defeated Australia by 100 runs

Group B match: India defeated Papua New Guinea (PNG) by 10 wickets

Group B match: India defeated Zimbabwe by 10 wickets

Quarter-final: India defeated Bangladesh by 131 runs

Semi-final: India defeated Pakistan by 203 runs

Final: India defeated Australia by 8 wickets