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ICC Under-19 World Cup 2016: India unearths its next generation of superstars

Indian team will take on West Indies in the final of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in a bid to emulate the memories of 1983 as it unearths our next generation of superstars in the progression.

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 India's U-19 stars (From top Armaan Jaffer(left),Anmolpreet Singh(left middle), Sarfaraz Khan(left bottom), Avesh Khan(middle), Mayank Dagar(right top), Rishabh Pant(right middle) and Mahipal Lormor (right bottom) © Getty Images
India’s U-19 stars ( Armaan Jaffer(top left), Anmolpreet Singh(left middle), Sarfaraz Khan(left bottom), Avesh Khan(middle), Mayank Dagar(right top), Rishabh Pant(right middle) and Mahipal Lormor (right bottom) © Getty Images

With all said and done the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2016 will reach its conclusion on February 14th, when three-time champions India will take on the boys from the calypso nation , West Indies. India, who went on to win the 2000 edition under the captaincy of Mohammad Kaif; the 2008 edition under the current Indian Test captain Virat Kohli and most recently the 2012 edition led by Unmukt Chand, has always managed to bloom its littler players into stardom. One thing, which is the most common within all these teams, is that they had players or rather superstars amidst their squad, who gave rose to a generation of cricketers that the Indian audience hadn’t had seen before (Under-19 World Cup started in 1988 was then known as Bicentennial Youth World Cup). Vishal Mehra writes down few glaring parallels, which are evident between the past, present and to be future superstars of Indian cricket across formats. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: India U19 vs West Indies U19, Final match

ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup has always contributed well towards the growth of cricket in India, more so given as batting legends which at given point or time will be envied by national all across the board. One such player was Virender Sehwag, having been participated in the 1998 edition he took the world of cricket by the storm in years to come, having made only 76 runs from 6 games in the competition. Sehwag changed the way cricket was not only played in the country but all around the world in cricket. Coming to the 2000 edition, Indian apart from Kaif, India most priced possession in Yuvraj Singh. Yuvraj, who took the world by the scruff of the neck in the ICC Knockout Trophy in 1999-00, has gone on to become one of the most destructive and dynamic players for the nation; bring one after the other laurels. From the current lot one can easily say Rishabh Pant has qualities of both Sehwag and Yuvraj, both in terms of his striking capabilities and ability to gage the match condition. Pant so far in the 2016 edition has made 266 runs in 5 matches at a mind-numbing strike rate of 105.13 with one century and 2 half-centuries, having won two man-of the match award.

Virat Kohli, who from the very start of his career was expressive and outright aggressive, got India to their second victory in the ICC U-19 World Cup on a rainy evening at Malaysia in 2008, has now became a national rage and satisfaction of all to be proud off. Kohli, in the recent past has broken all Indian batting records held by the master Sachin Tendulkar himself, and is now the captain of the Indian Test side, slated to take over the One-Day International duty as well. His Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) teammate Sarfaraz Khan looks to a more steady and introvert version of him. In the ongoing tournament, Sarfaraz  has hammered bowlers all round the park in Bangladeshi grounds, making 304 runs at 76 with four half-centuries (most 50’s in this edition). Sarfaraz did acknowledge the role of Kohli in his emergence as a complete player.

Cheteshwar Pujara, who has now become the pillar of Test batting line-up after the retirement of Rahul Dravid, is an textbook example of how one should grow up to be. Pujara is known for his marathon innings, nudging and fiddling with bowlers and fielders alike.  Armaan Jaffer, who is also the nephew of former India Test opener Wasim Jaffer, has been the most efficient batsman for India in youth cricket.  Armaan has both, the technique and perseverance to survive for long and rigid sessions.

Ravindra Jadeja, who has now developed into this monster of a spinner in Indian sub-continent conditions, was the runner up in the 2006 edition losing out to Pakistan by 38, in which India suffered a batting collapse. Since then Jadeja has worked on his batting and bowling, become this unplayable bowler on pitches, which provide a bit of spunk.  Anmolpreet Singh, who has played only two matches in this edition, has looked in control with both bat and bowl, making 113 runs at 56.50, with a highest of 72 runs. What is more important are his bowling abilities, which can be fostered into making him a much needed spinning all-rounder.  The 2004 edition gave India their very own swing sultan in Irfan Pathan, who had a brilliant start to his career against Australia. Pathan went to play a very important role in India’s success in overseas conditions. Avesh Khan, who is having a sensational World Cup, already taken 11 wickets so far with one more match remaining in his kitty to add to his tally. Avesh has managed to trouble batsmen with his in-swinging deliveries and on the mark bowling, is will surely look to continue his upward incline. Unlike Pathan, Avesh will not be labeled as an all-rounder, which really messed with Pathan’s priorities.

The 1998 edition showcased India’s spinning talent in Harbhajan Singh. Harbhajan, who went to make history during Australia’s 2000-01 tour of the India by becoming the first ever-Indian bowler to pick up a Test hattrick. Harbhajan, since then has mesmerised one an all with his trickery, gathering 682 (Test + ODIs) wickets in the process. In Mahipal Lomror and Mayank Dagar, India’s spin new age twins; the art of left-arm leg break is safe and secured. Lormor and Dagar so far have collected as many as 15 wickets together with 7 and 8 wickets respectively. Note: Dagar has played only 3 matches to Lormor’s 5. Lormor and Dagar both have a long long way to go too match up to Harbhajan’s valor will feel satisfy from the fact that they have as many or can surpass his count of eight wickets he picked up in 1998 edition.

With the final just a day away, Indian team will surely take strength from the last time these two team met in a World Cup finale back in 1983 when Kapil Dev steered the side, who managed to do the unmanageable defeat the colossal Clive Lloyd-captained side, winning the 60-over trophy to give rise to a sleeping giant and a herculean cricketing nation. This current group of young boys can only hope to have the same effect on this upcoming breed of cricketers in India, by lifting the glorious trophy for the fourth time and be proudly knighted as World Champions.

(Vishal Mehra is a reporter at CricketCountry, who enjoys his weekly dose of anime, and plays cricket once a white moon. His twitter handle is @vishal_oxyjinn)

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