How Team India performed in the past seven finals as Yash Dhull and co. face England U19

So far India has been the dominant side in the Under-19 World Cup, as the Yash Dhull-led side advanced to the final after defeating Australia in the semi-finals of the ongoing Under-19 World Cup 2022. Yash Dhull and five other players tested positive for COVID-19, but the players on the bench who took their place got an opportunity to shine before the first-team players returned to the line-up. The Men in Blue are undefeated heading into the summit clash in search of their fifth crown.

The Indian team has previously competed in seven finals, winning four and losing three. This will be India’s fourth final in a row, and the boys in blue will be looking to overcome their previous defeat to Bangladesh. However, the form and strength of the Dhull-led team indicate that they are well on their way to a fifth title. Let’s look at how the Asian giants did in the youth World Cup finals:

India’s first appearance in a final was in the 2000 edition, where they came out on top. The team, which included Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh, defeated Sri Lanka in the final by 6 wickets, thanks to Reetinder Sodhi and Niraj Patel’s performances as they chased down 179 runs in 40.4 overs.

After qualifying for the summit fight directly in 2006 after 2000, India needed three more editions to reach another final, but Pakistan prevailed in the final. Team India, which included Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja, and Piyush Chawla, was humiliated as they were bowled out for 71 runs while pursuing 110 runs.

The next year, the Virat Kohli-led team overcame South Africa by 12 runs by D/L method in a rain-interrupted World Cup final in Malaysia, riding on Tanmay Srivastava’s gritty 74-ball 49 to win a thriller.

After a couple of editions, the Unmukt Chand-led squad reached the final in 2012, when they faced a dominating Australian team. India was chasing 226 runs, and Chand led from the front, accumulating 111 runs on his own as the former India star helped his side win the match with 14 balls to spare.

The 2016 squad, captained by Ishan Kishan and featuring Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, and Avesh Khan, had a fantastic run to the final, only to be defeated by the Shimron Hetmyer-led West Indies team. Sarfaraz struck a brave 51, but 145 wasn’t enough as the Windies chased the score down in the last over.

But, two years later, under the guidance of Rahul Dravid and Prithvi Shaw, the Men in Blue overcame the Aussies in the final. The squad, which included Shubman Gill, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Mavi, and Kamlesh Nagarkoti, chased down 217 runs in the final, thanks to Manjot Kalra’s undefeated 101.

It was a historic game, but it did not end well for India, as Bangladesh won their first ICC trophy. It was a final in which tempers rose from both camps, particularly after the victorious team raised the trophy, as their reaction drew significant condemnation. Bangladesh defeated India in the final after chasing down 170 runs in a rain-delayed game.

The team captained by Yash Dhull won all five games to reach the U-19 World Cup final. On February 5, India U19 will face England U19 in the final of the ICC U19 World Cup.