2018 ICC Under-19 World Cup: 5 players who contributed to India's triumph

After 20 days of mind-blowing cricket in New Zealand, we finally have a new champion at the Under-19 level. The Indian U-19 team, in a one-sided contest at Bay Oval in Tauranga, defeated the Australian U-19 team by 8 wickets to lift the World Cup for a record 4th time in the 30-year long history of the tournament.

Entering the World Cup final as the only undefeated team in the tournament, India chased a target of 217 in only 37.5 overs, courtesy an impressive 101 from opener Manjot Kalra. Coached by none other than Rahul Dravid himself, the next generation of International cricketers were able to fend off challenges from not only Australia, but also India's own neighbours Bangladesh and Pakistan in the quarter-finals and semi-finals.

In what can be regarded as a complete team effort, there were a few players who were able to shine when it mattered the most.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti

India's bowling spearhead

The leader of the Indian pace attack, the 18-year-old from Barmer, Rajasthan, ended up as India's second highest wicket-taker in the tournament, with 9 wickets in 6 matches. Possessing an impressive economy rate of just 3.48, Nagarkoti, along with his bowling partner Shivam Mavi, did not allow the opposition to score freely in the opening overs of the innings.

With two impressive 3-wicket hauls, one against Australia in the group stage match and the other against Bangladesh in the all-important quarter-finals, Nagarkoti's performances throughout the World Cup always proved more than handy for the Indian team.

Manjot Kalra

The centurion from the final

Providing the necessary support to skipper Prithvi Shaw at the top of the order was the young 19-year-old lad from Delhi. Ending as the third-highest run-scorer for India with 252 runs in 6 matches at an astounding average of 84, Kalra mostly played second fiddle when the captain was batting alongside him.

However, when it mattered most, in both matches against Australia, he played like a monster, scoring 86 runs in the group stage match and then 101 in the final, becoming only the second Indian batsman to score a hundred in a World Cup Final. A member of the formidable top order of India, he also scored a vital 47 against Pakistan in the semi-finals.

Prithvi Shaw

The captain that took the team to a memorable victory

How often do we see a captain not only succeeding in taking his team to victory, but also performing consistently throughout the tournament? Not often, but 18-year-old Prithvi Shaw ended as India's second highest run-scorer in the tournament.

The Indian skipper scored a total of 261 runs in 5 innings at an average of over 65. Along with Manjot Kalra, Shaw gave the Indian team solid starts in all but one game in the tournament. The innings of 94 in the group match against Australia and the quickfire 57 against Papua New Guinea were two of the best innings of the tournament for India.

Leading from the front, the young cricketer became only the 4th Indian captain to win the U-19 World Cup.

Anukul Roy

Anukul Roy was India's highest wicket-taker

The biggest star with the ball for India, Anukul Roy not only ended the tournament as India's highest wicket-taker, but also as the joint highest wicket-taker overall, with 14 wickets in just 6 innings. Even more impressive is his economy rate of 3.84, bowling strike rate of just 14 and a mind-boggling average of 9.07.

His 5-wicket haul against PNG in the group match rattled the opposition out for a total of just 64 runs and his subsequent figures of 4/20 against Zimbabwe ensured that India ended the group stages on top of their group.

In the final, Roy's left arm orthodox gave India the vital wickets of Param Uppal and Jonathan Merlo, which laid the foundation for the historic victory.

Shubman Gill

India's best batsman

The vice-captain of the Indian team, Shubman Gill performed consistently throughout the tournament. Ending as the second highest run scorer, Gill accumulated 372 runs in just five innings, at a breath-taking strike rate of over 112 and a stunning average of 124.00.

With 1 hundred and 3 fifties in five innings, the flamboyant batsman scored a destructive 90 against Zimbabwe in their last group match after which he scored a steady 86 from 94 balls against Bangladesh in the quarter-finals. Saving his best knock for the most important match, Gill completely blew Pakistan away with a majestic 102 from 94 balls in the semi-finals.