India-Australia U-19 World Cup final today

MOUNT MAUNGANUI: It has been almost six years since an Indian team took on Australia in the final of the Under 19 World Cup. On that occasion in 2012, Unmukt Chand led India to glory, thus drawing level with Australia with three title wins apiece.

While the trophy has eluded both teams in the last two editions, the opportunity to become the most successful team in the history of the competition - with a fourth title victory - will spur both Prithvi Shaw and Jason Sangha’s sides when they face off in the summit clash of the ICC Under 19 World Cup, 2018 on Saturday.

India colts put forth a stellar show in their opening game by posting a massive 328 on the board, riding on fifties from the top three - Shaw, Manjot Kalra and Shubman Gill. On the day, Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti stepped up too to announce their arrival on the world stage. As the campaign has wore on, India’s batsmen have assumed the kind of prominence that they are expected to. Gill has crossed fifty every time he has walked out to bat, Shaw has got runs every time as well and Harvik Desai and Kalra have made their presence felt too.

Anukul Roy has led the show with 12 wickets in the tournament and his backbreaking five-fer against PNG will be talked about for some time. Mavi and Nagarkoti have already been picked up in the IPL auction, a marker of how impressive they have been. There is little that India would worry about, having been unbeaten in the tournament so far, except the law of averages which for the time being is the only possible hurdle. Also, they would want their captain to score big, having got starts in every outing. Australia’s batsmen haven’t been as menacing but Jack Edwards and skipper Sangha will hold the key in their top three. If the duo can have a good outing together, Australia could well be on their way to avenge the defeat suffered early in the tournament. The one player who has hit the headlines for them is the legspinner Lloyd Pope and his mind-boggling figures of 8 for 35 against traditional rivals England put him on everyone’s radar. Although India would be expected to handle spin well, Pope would have a big say in the game if Australia has to bank on its trump cards.

There’s very little chance they will tinker with the combination that has worked for them throughout the tournament, especially for the punches they landed on Pakistan in a high-pressure semifinal contest. While Gill will be expected to deliver the goods, Ishan Porel is another one to watch out for, especially after his match-winning 4 for 17 against Pakistan.

Australia: Having made it to their fifth final in the history of Under 19 World Cups, they too would look to stick to their guns to claim the title. Australia have roped in Patrick Rowe as a replacement for Aaron Hardie, who suffered a groin injury. Hardie, an allrounder, himself was a replacement for pacer Jason Ralston and didn’t get to play a game. It’s unlikely that wicketkeeper-batsman Rowe would fit in the XI unless someone suffers a last-minute injury.

Teams: India U-19 (From): Prithvi Shaw(c), Manjot Kalra, Shubman Gill, Harvik Desai(w), Riyan Parag, Abhishek Sharma, Anukul Roy, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shivam Mavi, Shiva Singh, Ishan Porel, Himanshu Rana, Aryan Juyal, Arshdeep Singh, Pankaj Yadav, Aditya Thakare.

Australia U-19 (From): Jack Edwards, Max Bryant, Jason Sangha(c), Jonathan Merlo, Param Uppal, Nathan McSweeney, Will Sutherland, Baxter J Holt(w), Zak Evans, Ryan Hadley, Lloyd Pope, Xavier Bartlett, Jarrod Freeman, Patrick Rowe, Austin Waugh.