Top 5 performances by India at the Under-19 World Cup

Yet another edition of the Under-19 Cricket World Cup is currently underway in Bangladesh. India has easily been the most successful team in this prestigious tournament, which features the future stars of world cricket, with 3 successful campaigns already.Whether they will be able to add a fourth one to their kitty is something that only time will be able to tell. However, this is the perfect occasion for us to look back at some exceptional performances that the Indian colts have displayed in the holy grail of Under-19 cricket.Here are 5 best showings by Team India at the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup:

#5 2004 Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh: Semi-finalists

Ambati Rayudu led the India Under-19 team in a largely successful campaign

Despite bowing out in the semis, India produced a performance to remember in the 2004 Under-19 World Cup played in Bangladesh. Led by Ambati Rayudu, Team India dominated throughout their stay in the tournament and were favourites to lift the trophy at one stage.

The batting, in particular, was quite superb with the Indians posting two 300-plus scores and one score in excess of 400 as well. It did not, however, work out well for them in the semi-final against Pakistan as they lost by 5 wickets.

Members of the Indian squad who went on to represent the senior team later on in their careers include Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik, RP Singh and skipper Ambati Rayudu.

#4 2006 Under-19 World Cup: Runners-up

Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara emerged from the 2006 Under-19 WC

India came agonisingly close to clinching yet another Under-19 World Cup title in the year 2006. Under the captaincy of Ravikant Shukla, the team had an unbeaten run for the duration of the tournament until they lost to Pakistan by 38 runs in the final at Colombo.

The bowlers had managed to blow away the Pakistanis for a paltry 109, but the batting imploded as India were dismissed for just 71. Two future stars who emerged from the 2006 Under-19 World Cup were Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma.

Ravindra Jadeja, too, was part of the team but he also played the next edition in 2008. Another player from this squad who played international cricket for India was leg-spinner Piyush Chawla.

#3 2012 Under-19 World Cup in Australia: Champions

India won the 2012 Under-19 World Cup under the leadership of Unmukt Chand

The latest Under-19 World Cup victory for the Indians was during the 2012 edition of the tournament, where Unmukt Chand and his team lifted the trophy. With this, India became the second country after Australia to win the prestigious tournament 3 times.

In the group stages, Team India finished second in their group courtesy of a 4-wicket loss at the hands of group winners West Indies. However, a couple of close victories against Pakistan and New Zealand in the quarter-final and semi-final respectively saw them reach the final against hosts Australia.

The Indian Under-19 team brought their A-game to the fore in the summit clash as they cantered to victory by 6 wickets, thanks to an unbeaten century by skipper Unmukt Chand. The fact that the triumph had come for India in overseas conditions made it all the more special.

#2 2000 Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka: Champions

Mohammad Kaif was the skipper in India's 2000 Under-19 WC win

India's very first Under-19 World Cup triumph came in the year 2000 with future Indian player Mohammad Kaif at the helm for the team. It was the first time when an Under-19 event had grabbed so much attention in the country.

Played in Sri Lanka, the tournament featured some players who would go on to dominate world cricket in the years that followed such as Graeme Smith, Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson and India's very own Yuvraj Singh. Yuvraj also bagged the player of the tournament award for his heroics.

The Indian team faced hosts Sri Lanka in the final and bundled them out for 178. The batsmen then helped the team cruise to a comfortable 6-wicket victory and claim their maiden Under-19 World Cup trophy.

#1 2008 Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia: Champions

Virat Kohli led the Indian team to a famous Under-19 World Cup triumph

Perhaps India's finest performance in the marquee event of Under-19 cricket came with their victory in the 2008 event, which was played in Malaysia. Under the leadership of present Test captain and top batsman Virat Kohli, India produced a dominant display and remained unbeaten throughout the tournament.

India were placed in the toughest group that featured South Africa as well as West Indies, but they easily managed to top the group by winning all matches. They thrashed England in the quarters and cruised past New Zealand in the semis to set up a summit clash against the South Africans.

Despite having put just 159 on the board in the final, Team India successfully defended the total and brought home the Under-19 World Cup trophy for the second time. Apart from Kohli, some future Indian players to emerge from the tournament were Ravindra Jadeja and Manish Pandey.