Top 5 wicket-takers in Under-19 World Cups

#3 Abhishek Sharma, India

Sharma played in the Indian Cricket League later

26 wickets at 17.81 in 14 matches

Though Abhishek Sharma brought in the variety of leg-break bowling, he never made it big despite coming to notice through two Under-19 World Cups. In the first one, played in New Zealand in 2002, he was India’s highest wicket-taker on pitches aiding seam and swing. In a rampaging spell of 3/13 against Canada, Abhishek bowled five maidens out of seven overs as India thumped them by 242 runs.

He continued to be in the wickets with hauls of 3/46 against Sri Lanka and 3/37 against Pakistan, the latter spell nearly taking India over the line.

On the spin-friendly surfaces of Bangladesh in 2004, Abhishek helped India defend 216 against New Zealand by bagging 2/33 and then claiming 3/39 against the hosts to seal a comprehensive win. But his most memorable performance came against West Indies with 4/28. As he did in 2002, he ended the tournament as India’s leading wicket taker.