Mirpur: India are favourites to win an unprecedented fourth ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup when they take on a wily West Indies in the final here on Sunday. India breezed into their fifth final under the precious guidance of coach Rahul Dravid, steamrolling their opponents in the three league games as well as in the knock-outs.
If they win, India will surpass Australia for the most number of titles in the U-19 showpiece event introduced way back in 1988. The sub-continent team last lifted the trophy in 2012 after winning it in 2008 and 2000.
The Indians seem unstoppable but they can’t afford to take it easy against the West Indians, who have upped their game as the tournament progress.
The boys from Caribbean finished second in their group before earning plaudits with a spirited showing against Pakistan and Bangladesh in the quarters and semifinals respectively. India will once again bank on their dangerous opening duo of Rishabh Pant and captain Ishan Kishan to give them a flying start.
Kishan, who has only one fifty to his name in five innings, would love to be amongst the runs in the big final. Another IPL recruit, Pant, too, would be itching to rise to the occasion after getting out cheaply against Sri Lanka in the semifinals.
Anmolpreet Singh would be high on confidence after making a crucial 72 against Sri Lanka and so would be power hitter Sarfaraz Khan, who is India’s leading run-getter in the competition with 304 runs at an average of 76, including four fifties in five games.
Pacer Avesh Khan, with 11 scalps, has taken the most number of wickets for the team while left-arm spinner Mayank Dagar, too, has impressed with eight wickets from four matches at an average of 12. (PTI)
