ICC U19 World Cup 2014: 5 players who can win it for India
Defending champions India will be full of confidence as ICC U19 World Cup gets under way on February 14 in UAE. The Indians, as expected, are one of the favourites to win the cup this time as well, along with others like nations like Australia and England.
The side will be led by Vijay Zol, a successful campaigner as far as under-19 cricket is concerned. The Indian team has quite a few gems in their squad because of which there are high hopes from them.
Here are 5 players from India who are expected to make their mark in this tournament and are the ones who have it in them to win the championship for India again.
5. Akhil Herwadkar
Akhil Herwadkar
He is a very useful hand with the bat at the top of the order. He was part of the team that won the title last time, and we can be sure he will be hungry for another triumph this time around. This left-hander from Mumbai is also in a good run of form and he even got a hundred against the UAE U19 last month, in a game that the Indians won handsomely by 189 runs.
He will most probably be joined by Ankush Bains at the other end as both of them open for India. He will be required to provide a solid start at the onset, and as far his stats go, he seems quite capable of doing that. He averages close to 30 in the U19 ODI games that he has played.
He can even bowl right-arm off break, but his services with the ball are sought only if a 5th bowling option is needed and nobody else looks fit to fulfil it. Therefore, his role will mainly be of batting at the start of the innings and if he can pull something off like what Gambhir did in the 2011 World Cup for India, then the Indian prospects certainly seem bright.
4. Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav
This spinner, hailing from Uttar Pradesh, has had an amazing record for Team India and averages below 20 with the ball in ODIs. He has very often proved to be difficult to pick with his clever variations, and his recent form looks nothing short of excellent.
He started this year with two impressive performances, picking up 3/49 against Sri Lanka and 3/72 against Pakistan in the semi-final and the final respectively of the U19 Asia Cup, which India won in style.
There is no reason he can’t produce performances of a similar nature in the upcoming World Cup, and India will only be too happy to receive his contribution with the ball. He has shown that he can pick up wickets.
If properly groomed, he can very well represent India in coming days as a left-arm spinner, not many of who have been produced by India. Thus, he can add a new dimension to the bowling attack, like what he already does for the U19s attack.
Expect him to play a major role in the series and make useful contributions for his side.