India captain Yash Dhull said the team stuck together to tide over a tumultuous phase and reach the semi-finals of the U-19 World Cup, following multiple Covid-19 positive cases in the squad.
“Our team combination has been very good and the boys are gelling well.
“Whenever someone is down, we all get together to bring them up. It is a lifetime experience here,” Dhull said after India’s five-wicket win over Bangladesh in Saturday’s quarter-final clash at Coolidge in Antigua.
India opted to bowl first after winning the toss and their bowlers, led by Bengal’s Ravi Kumar (3/14), responded brilliantly to skittle out Bangladesh for 111 in 37.1 overs. India then took only 30.5 overs to reach home with as many as 115 balls remaining.
They will face Australia in the semi-final on Wednesday at Coolidge.
Ravi, Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Vicky Ostwal were spot on in terms of their accuracy right from the onset. Left-arm pacer Ravi got the ball to move a fair bit and made early inroads that gave India the start they were looking for.
Following the 18-year-old’s early strikes, left-arm orthodox Ostwal also struck twice as Bangladesh had lost half their side for just 37 in the 16th over and could never recover from that initial setback.
For India, the return of five players after they had tested negative was a big boost to the team ahead of the last-eight clash, Dhull agreed.
He also thanked National Cricket Academy (NCA) head VVS Laxman for his guidance during the tournament. The former India middle-order batsman has been accompanying the team in the West Indies.
“The team is improving and we’re peaking at the right time. Laxman Sir is sharing with us his experience that helps us a lot in the middle,” Dhull emphasised.
“As for the semi-final, we’ll look at it on the day of the match... Also depends on how the wicket is going to be,” he added.
What also worked in India’s advantage in the quarter-final game was their knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the Bangladeshi players, against whom they had played in the tri-series that was held at Eden Gardens in Calcutta last December, Ravi pointed out. “Our plan was simple. We just wanted to bowl tight lines.
“We had played against these guys before. So we wanted to put pressure on them in the first 20 overs and our team executed that game plan brilliantly,” Ravi, adjudged Player of the Match, said.
Brief scores
Quarter final: Bangladesh U-19 111 in 37.1 overs (R. Kumar 3/14, V. Ostwal (2/25). India U-19 112/5 in 30.5 overs (A. Raghuvanshi 44). India U-19 won by 5 wickets.