Aussies a Deja Vu for Indians

Uday Saharan, ICC World Cup 2023, Rohit Sharma (Pic: AFP)

The Under 19 World Cup final on Sunday was another heartbreaking moment for Team India and its fans. From securing victory in all the World Cup campaign matches to losing just one match and that too in the final has been a similar sight for the Blues. Uday Saharan-led Indian team faced a defeat against Australia by 79 runs in the finals of the Under-19 World Cup 2024.

In the first innings, Indian pacer Raj Limbani bowled a remarkable 10-over spell by conceding just 38 runs for three wickets. The unbeaten Under 19 Aussies still somehow managed to put on a target of 254 against India. Opener Arshin Kulkarni departed early in the game. The partnership between Adarsh Singh and Musheer Khan did not last long as the Australian pacer Mahli Beardman unrooted Khan's off stump. Skipper Saharan and Sachin Dhas too played rash shots which cost their wickets. No batsman except Adarsh Singh was able to score many runs. He missed his well-deserved half-century by just three runs.

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That day, Australia ticked every box in the game. Mahli Beardman showcased his exceptional skills with the ball. He bagged three wickets for 15 runs in a seven-over spell including two maiden overs.

The Australians have become Deja vu for Indians in all the ICC events. Earlier in the year 2023, Team India lost the final of the ICC World Test Championship against Australia. Ajinkya Rahane's valuable knocks in both innings and Virat Kohli's 49 runs in the second innings went in vain as the opponents won the match by 209 runs.

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In the recent global showpiece in India last year, the "Men in Blue" won all the tournament matches and clashed with Australia in the finals. On November 19 2023, the teary eyes of Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and his players shook the internet. Pat Cummins-led Australia displayed an exceptional show with the ball and bat. No lazy runs were given to India.

Travis Head was the centurion in both the ICC events (ICC World Test Championship and ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023) against India in the finals. Head's 163 in the WTC final and 137 runs in the ODI World Cup final snatched the dream of Indians to lift an ICC trophy.

Somehow, most of the countrymen saw the dream in the "Boys in Blue" hoping to end the ICC trophy drought. The final did not result in India's side but the young lads displayed some promising shows for the future.