Mature heads on young shoulders have helped the Indian U-19 team stand out from the rest in the ongoing World Cup, feels their coach Paras Mhambrey.
The Priyam Garg-led Indian side have looked a class apart from all the opponents that they have brushed aside on their way to Sunday’s final, to be played in Potchefstroom.
The likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kartik Tyagi, Ravi Bishnoi and Priyam are talented with good cricketing skills, but it’s their ability to shun distractions which has caught Mhambrey’s attention.
All the above four were picked up by IPL teams during the players’ auction in December, but it seems that they have managed to keep aside thoughts of the glossy world of franchise cricket for the moment.
And for drilling that into the heads of the youngsters, Mhambrey thanked Rahul Dravid, who currently heads the National Cricket Academy as its director.
“The IPL auction happened well before the U-19 World Cup. Many of these players will join the franchise teams post the World Cup, but these guys have really dealt well with the situation. Rahul spoke to them about all these things. He has done so with everyone, making sure that distractions don’t affect their game. But I must say that the approach and attitude of these guys have been excellent.
“They understand very well that this U-19 World Cup is one of the most important tournaments they will have ever played in their lives. They have realised that and in terms of maturity, they are far ahead of their age,” Mhambrey told The Telegraph from Potchefstroom on Thursday.
And what would be his advice to the players once the World Cup is over?
“Stepping into the senior level from the U-19 stage is like being thrown from a pond into an ocean. So they need to go through the grind of first-class cricket, as that’s really important.
“Look, first-class cricket is tough and of a different level altogether. A lot of guys from the current lot have the potential to be a part of the senior Indian side in future. But their first challenge is to establish themselves in first-class cricket and then wait for the opportunity in international cricket.
“It’s only when you are successful in first-class cricket that you get selected for the international level. So once this U-19 World Cup is over, their prime focus should be on doing well in the Ranji Trophy,” Mhambrey advised.
Opener Yashasvi, along with pacer Tyagi and leg-spinner Bishnoi, have played a massive role behind the Indian team’s progress to the final. Mhambrey, though, prefers to highlight team effort instead of singling out any individual or two.
“See, at a given stage, everyone has performed. From our first game till the semi-final, each one of them has performed. It’s not that the top order or a couple of bowlers have stood up. Not just Kartik, but the other seamers too delivered when required, and to talk of the spinners, Ravi has picked up crucial wickets. Overall, they have ticked the right boxes,” the head coach analysed.
While talking about Yashasvi, Mhambrey also spoke of the other opener Divyaansh Saxena.
“You get more opportunities if you are an opener. Yashasvi has done exactly that… Made use of the chances coming his way. At the same time, we need to underline Divyaansh’s contribution too… Look, both the openers are pretty attacking and are keen on showing positive intent. But they have also adapted well and played to the situation, which is equally important.
“Sometimes, you need to hold back and do what naturally doesn’t come to you. That’s one of the demands of the game. I guess our openers have done well in this matter.”
Mhambrey, lastly, is confident of his wards lifting the trophy on Sunday, when they face Bangladesh U-19 in the final. “They have dealt really well with whatever hype that was there regarding the semi-final versus Pakistan.
“But they are also aware that they still have the most important game to play, so they are not at all overjoyed. But yeah, the environment in the dressing room is perfect and they are ready for everything,” he concluded.
