ICC U19CWC: India need to play natural game against Australia in final

Bengaluru, February 2: In sports, the final hurdle is often the tallest because it tests the mental strength of sportspersons harder than their skill. Standing inches away from the ultimate prize can be an intimidating and awe-inspiring experience.

Sometimes, that thought forces athletes to try that extra bit harder and tinker with the playing pattern that carried them till the doorstep of glory. It takes presence of mind and prudence to respect the occasion and play your natural game.

The India Under-19 side is standing at that point now - they will play the final of the ICC Under-19 World Cup against Australia at the Bay Oval, Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand on Saturday (February 3). This will be a day-night affair.

Full schedule/results

En route to the title clash, India were never challenged even for once. To make that statement clear, India had beaten Australia, their opponents in the final, by 100 runs in the league stage. They never lost their steam since then. But that victory has no real bearing on this match - India can only take the positive vibe and confidence from that result.

The India colts have a big moment ahead of them and they need to show the collective will that carried them this far one more time. It is imperative too, because Australia look a transformed side since that defeat in their opening game. They too have gone past opponents with ease.

But then, this question will always be asked ahead of such matches - who are the favourites? While, it is rather churlish to give that garb to a particular team, it can safely be assumed that India have handled situations better than their rivals in this tournament.

Never before has a side reached a 250+ total in an #U19CWC final - will Australia or India buck the trend on Saturday?

➡️ https://t.co/fOGMUF0LfH pic.twitter.com/0FpKgRJ141

— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) February 1, 2018

With bat or ball, India never really loosened their grip on matches. The only crisis point, if you can call it that, was the 166 for five against Pakistan in the semifinals. But India have a man - sorry, a boy rather - for each occasion and the impressive Shubman Gill, the third highest run-getter in the event with 341 runs at a stunning average of 170.5, lifted India over their rivals with a hundred.

Prithvi Shaw" title="Gill's innings was a microcosm of India's overall effort in the ICC U19 CWC. Their maturity far exceeds their age. Perhaps, it was because some of them, like skipper Prithvi Shaw" />Gill's innings was a microcosm of India's overall effort in the ICC U19 CWC. Their maturity far exceeds their age. Perhaps, it was because some of them, like skipper Prithvi Shaw

The bowlers have done their job quite effectively too. Left-arm spinner Anukul Roy is among the top five wicket takers with 12 scalps and pacers Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Shivam Mavi too chipped in by sharing 15 wickets between them.

🇮🇳 India trains on a sunny afternoon in Tauranga under the watchful eye of Rahul Dravid 👀 #U19CWC pic.twitter.com/hWcKumS8KJ

— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) February 2, 2018

Similarly, Australia have improved through their skipper Jason Sangha, leg-spinner Lloyd Pope and batsman Jack Edwards. More significantly, they will now know what to expect from India after that opening match and will be wiser for it.

Sangha has amassed 216 runs in five games, while Edwards and Nathan McSweeney both have scored 188 runs in the event. In the bowling department, Pope has bagged 11 wickets - eight of those coming against England in the quarterfinal.

But it is undeniable that this young Indian side has both swagger and skill, which they displayed judiciously so far on the field. An encore holds the key to success for them on the morrow.

Squads:

India (from): Prithvi Shaw (Capt), Shubman Gill, Aryan Juyal, Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Harvik Desai, Manjot Kalra, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Pankaj Yadav, Riyan Parag, Ishan Porel, Himanshu Rana, Anukul Roy, Shivam Mavi, Shiva Singh.

Australia: Jason Sangha (Capt), Will Sutherland, Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Jack Edwards, Zak Evans, Jarrod Freeman, Ryan Hadley, Baxter Holt, Nathan McSweeney, Jonathan Merlo, Lloyd Pope, Jason Ralston, Param Uppal, Austin Waugh.

Match details

India vs Australia

ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup final

Live telecast on: Star Sports 1/Star Sports HD1 from 6.30 am

Live streaming on: Hotstar.com