World Cup won, but the real test begins now, that’s the challenge that awaits the teenage cricketers who helped India clinch a record fifth U-19 World Cup title the other day. The level of competition and dynamics in international cricket is drastically different from what these colts have had to deal with so far.
The likes of Mohammed Kaif, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan and even Prithvi Shaw have done decently at the senior level in international cricket after winning the World Cup as U-19 cricketers. And Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, teammates when India won the
U-19 World Cup in March 2008, are shining examples and inspiration for all those young achievers who dream of graduating successfully to the next level.
But that’s one side of the story. What about Unmukt Chand? The one who led India to their 2012 U-19 Cup triumph and promised so much as a top-order batsman, only
to phase out a few seasons later. Forget earning an India berth, the New Delhi-born player struggled to make an impact even in the IPL and is now plying his trade in the United States.
Sreevats Goswami, an opener in the Kohli-led 2008 champion U-19 side, was deemed as another talented player. But the Bengal wicketkeeper-batsman couldn’t proceed beyond the first-class and List A levels in spite of making some India A appearances. Though he bagged IPL contracts, he has never been a first-choice in any side.
Left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdulla, another player from the 2008 batch, had impressed for Mumbai at the domestic level as well as for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2011. But like Sreevats, he too couldn’t break into the senior India side.
It’s not just about Unmukt, Sreevats or Abdulla. The list features many more who have been part of India’s U-19 World Cup-winning squads, possessed enough promise but failed to do much thereafter.
The experiences of these players in particular should also be a lesson for the likes of Yash Dhull, Ravi Kumar and Raj Bawa, the architects of India’s latest triumph in the U-19 World Cup, all of whom may win IPL contracts in the coming February 12-13 auction.
Back to basics
Red-ball cricket should be the topmost priority now for these youngsters, who are also fortunate to have someone of the stature of VVS Laxman as the National Cricket Academy (NCA) director of cricket, junior selection committee chief Sridharan Sharath stressed.
“Representing the state will be the guys’ top priority now. Some of them will be picked for their state teams (for the Ranji Trophy), so those games will be on top of their agenda going forward,” Sharath, a former left-handed batsman who played 139 first-class and 116 List A matches for Tamil Nadu, told The Telegraph on Monday.
“But these guys seem to be knowing their responsibility while we also have VVS with us, who’ll keep them focused,” Sharath added.
“White-ball cricket has its own challenges, but unless you play red-ball games, you don’t become a finished product,” Devang Gandhi, currently the Bengal U-19 head coach and a former national selector, stated.
Need to be focused
Counselling sessions at the NCA in Bangalore and by coaches of the respective junior state teams, something Devang has done with his group of players, also play an important role in ensuring the colts remain focused.
“You need to have that talent and temperament to succeed at the senior level. During India’s 2018 tour of England, I had a brief conversation with (Jasprit) Bumrah, who shot to fame through the IPL. He said, ‘I don’t want to be just another fast bowler who has played for India, I want to be one of the best in the world’.
“So if these youngsters have the kind of mindset that Bumrah had, then a lot of them from this batch should make it to the next level,” Devang asserted.
Proper planning
In the days ahead, these players will be told of their strengths and the areas they need to work on in order to make sure they keep progressing. “We’ve told them what they need to do and we will also share the documents with them so that they have a fair idea of their strengths and weaknesses,” Hrishikesh Kanitkar, the head coach of the India U-19 side, said.