U-19 World Cup: Four-time champions India take on Australia in blockbuster semifinal | Cricket News – Times of India

Having seen their campaign almost come to an end after six of their players tested positive for Covid-19 following the first game, a rejuvenated India take on a formidable Australia in a blockbuster Super League semifinal of the Under-19 World Cup in Coolidge, Antigua on Wednesday.
Having started off on a sound note by beating South Africa by 45 runs in their opener in Providence, four-time champions and last-time finalists India were gripped by a major crisis as they struggled to field a playing XI after captain Yash Dhull, who scored 82 in the first game, vice-captain Shaik Rasheed, Aaradhya Yadav, Manav Parakh and Siddarth Yadav were all struck by Covid-19 before their second match, against Ireland on January 19.
Left isolating in Trinidad and Tobago, these players missed both the Ireland and Uganda fixtures, forcing the BCCI to fly in five reinforcements.
However, undeterred by this massive setback, a spirited India, with just 12 players available, thrashed Ireland by 174 runs and then Uganda by a record margin of 326 runs after scoring 405/5, their highest-ever score in the U-19 WC.
In a major boost, all their Covid-hit players were back for the quarterfinal against Bangladesh, even though Nishant Sindhu, who too has recovered now, became the latest to be affected by the virus.

A full-strength India avenged their defeat to Bangladesh the last time around in the final, overcoming the 2020 champs by five wickets in a low-scoring clash to move into their fourth semifinal in a row.
On the eve of the semis, Dhull credited batting legend VVS Laxman, who is currently in the West Indies in his capacity as the chairman of the National Cricket Academy, for keeping him motivated when the youngster was in isolation after testing positive for Covid.
“I won’t say it was difficult during quarantine as I got regular video calls from VVS sir, who would speak to me, cheer me up and talk to me about my mindset, so it wasn’t tough at all. I was very focused on our match against Bangladesh,” Dhull said. “Laxman sir shares his experiences, which will help us in the upcoming games.”
In Dhull and Rasheed’s absence, Harnoor Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Raj Bawa, who broke Shikhar Dhawan’s record for the highest individual score by an Indian batter at the U-19 World Cup with his 162* against Uganda, stepped up to show India’s batting still had muscle and depth.
Clearly, there’s a bond between these young turks by now. “When we rejoined the team, it didn’t feel as if we were away for nine days in isolation. We were ready to play,” Dhull said. The batsmen, though, did appear a bit shaky against Bangladesh, as India lost five wickets while chasing just 112.
With left-arm pacer Ravi Kumar, who wrecked the Bangladesh top order to leave them tottering at 14/3, right-arm seamer Rajvardhan Hangargekar, medium-pacer Bawa, spinners Vicky Ostwal and Kaushal Tambe all looking good, the bowling appears to be in safe hands.
Though appearing nervous, Dhull gave an apt reply to a pertinent question about what a cricketer who does well in the junior World Cup must do to ensure he doesn’t fade away. “We need to work doubly harder after this level and the focus needs to improve even more.
“We need to be consistent and perform regularly so that the transition from the under-19 level to first-class cricket is quick enough and we get picked quickly for our team,” summed up Dhull.
If these youngsters do well in the remaining games, there’s a good chance of them fetching a big price in the IPL auctions on February 12-13.
Meanwhile, in two-time champions Australia, who will be on a high after outplaying Pakistan by 119 runs in the quarterfinals, India face their sternest test yet. They must target the scalp of opener Teague Wyllie – the 17-year-old scored 71 against Pakistan, 101* against Scotland and 86* against West Indies earlier on in the event.