By India have won their last six meetings against Australia at the Under-19 World Cup, including twice at the finals
India and Australia are poised for a gripping encounter in the Under-19 World Cup final, marking their third meeting in a grand finale since June 2023. Although the setting in Benoni lacks the intimidating aura of Ahmedabad, the South African city promises to be a battleground as the teams vie for cricket’s coveted youth title.
Defending champions India, boasting an illustrious history in the tournament, are set to make their ninth final appearance, aiming for an unprecedented sixth title. In contrast, Australia, led by Mitchell Marsh in their last triumph in 2010, seek redemption after encountering a formidable Indian side twice since then, falling short on both occasions.
Reflecting on past finals, India’s Unmukt Chand scripted a memorable victory in 2012 in Townsville, while in 2018, Manjot Kalra emulated his compatriot’s heroics in Mount Maunganui, under the guidance of Rahul Dravid. Now, six years later, Australia endeavors for another shot at glory against a backdrop of high stakes, confronting an Indian team whose age-group structure and pathway programs are the envy of the cricketing world.
India’s journey to the Under-19 World Cup final has been marked by both dominance and resilience. Employing their trademark strategy of batting first, they’ve often built their innings steadily before unleashing an onslaught in the death overs. However, their semi-final clash against South Africa presented a stern test, with their top order crumbling under the pressure of pace and swing. Yet, from the brink of collapse at 32 for 4 in pursuit of 246, Uday Saharan and Sachin Dhas emerged as heroes, orchestrating the highest fifth-wicket partnership in the history of the tournament to guide India to victory. This remarkable comeback not only underscores the squad’s remarkable temperament but also highlights the significance of game time in preparation, contrasting with the approach of other teams focused on camps and inter-squad matches.
Meanwhile, Australia’s path to the final has been fraught with challenges, notably their nail-biting encounter against Pakistan. Despite facing a daunting task of needing four runs off the final over with just one wicket in hand, a strategic field placement due to Pakistan’s over-rate penalty allowed Raf MacMillan to secure a dramatic victory with a fortuitous boundary. Prior to this close call, Australia found themselves in trouble against the West Indies, rallying from a precarious position of 87 for 5 thanks to a gritty century from Sam Konstas. Noteworthy performances also include Callum Vidler’s impressive bowling display, consistently clocking speeds above 140 km/h and wreaking havoc on opposition batters, amassing 12 wickets at an impressive average and economy rate.
