Former England skipper Michael Vaughan was left awestruck by the batting efforts of the India under-19 team in the semi-final against Australia of the ongoing under-19 World Cup in the West Indies.
Captain Yash Dhull led from the front with a marvellous century, supported by vice-captain Shaik Rasheed’s terrific 94 as India posted 290 before the bowlers didn’t give the Aussie batters any leeway bowling them out for 194, registering a big 96-run victory, and propelled India to their fourth consecutive under-19 World Cup final.
Michael Vaughan took to Twitter to lavish praise on the young Indian players, saying that India’s future looks bright and secure with this upcoming crop of skilled players. He hailed captain Yash Dhull as an “exceptional” batting talent.
“India U19s batting looked high class … The future looks secured for the Indian Team .. Yash Dhull looks exceptional,” the 2005 Ashes-winning captain tweeted.
Here’s Michael Vaughan’s tweet lauding the Indian team after their semi-final triumph:
India U19s batting looked high class … The future looks secured for the Indian Team .. Yash Dhull looks exceptional .. #U19WorldCup2022
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 2, 2022
It wasn’t, though, an easy task for the Indian team. India were put into early trouble at 37/2 losing both the openers before Dhull and Rasheed joined hands. In the world of fast and aggressive batting, the captain and vice-captain, both who had had covid earlier and missed a couple of games, batted out the new-ball threat against the premier Aussie bowlers.
They hit just three fours between overs 13 and 28, getting their eye in first, building a platform for the late assault. That they performed to the tee. Dhull raised his fifty off 64 balls while Rasheed in 78 balls.
Then both changed gears. Cutting, pulling, lofting and slogging the bowlers, the runs came off swiftly then. Soon captain Yash Dhull reached his century and celebrated it animatedly with the dressing room up on its feet. He’d however get run out for 110 followed by Rasheed who missed his three-figure mark by just 6 runs.
Australia weren’t given the opportunity to stop India to a par score by the incoming batters who smacked 48 in the last three overs to take India to 290.
Pacer Ravi Kumar struck an early blow with opener Teague Wyllie’s wicket. A 68-run second-wicket partnership was broken by Angkrish Raghuvanshi. The bowlers then pounced on this little window and made light work of the remaining game. Left-arm spinner Vicky Ostwal was the pick of the bowlers with 3/42 as India thumped the Australians by 96 runs.
India will face England in the final at the Sir Vivian Richard Stadium in Antigua on Saturday, February 5.
Also Read: Virat Kohli Revealed Anushka Sharma’s Special Connection With Bengaluru
