Here’s how every Under-19 World Cup-winning captain since 2008 is coping up

Everyone who takes up cricket as a profession always dreams of playing for the national team. But in a lot of countries, it was very difficult to do so due to the intense competition. However, there is one platform that gives youngsters a chance to prove their merit and also get a taste of playing for the country. That platform is the ICC U-19 World Cup. Over the years, the importance of the tournament has increased exponentially. While there is no guarantee, most of the players who do well here are bound to get an opportunity for the senior team going forward. Let us have a look at the captains of the winning teams in the U-19 World Cup from 2008, and where they are today.

2008 – Virat Kohli (India)

The man needs no introduction. Virat Kohli, arguably the best batsman of the modern generation, and the current Indian skipper started his journey in 2008, as he led the U-19 team to a resounding win. India, one of the favourites in the tournament, played South Africa in a rain-affected final. Under Kohli’s aggressive captaincy, the bowlers put in a fantastic performance, and India won the game by 12 runs under D/L method.

Kohli came under the spotlight after this win in Malaysia. He was soon drafted into the Indian team. He started off his ODI career well, and was able to establish a place for himself soon enough. While he was lucky to get a break so early, since then he hasn’t looked back. He has been the most consistent performer for India for more than a decade now and has been leading them in all formats since 2017.

2010 – Mitchell Marsh (2010)

The powerful all-rounder, Mitchell Marsh, led the Aussies to the title in 2010. He himself had a good tournament, scoring 201 runs, which included a match-winning 97 in the finals against Sri Lanka. With his all-round abilities, Marsh was given an opportunity soon enough as he made his debut in 2011.

Marsh has been unfortunate to have been struck with injuries time and time again, due to which he hasn’t been able to have a prolonged run with the Australia team. Recently, Marsh was injured once again, in the very first game he played in this year’s IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad. After recovering from injury, Marsh will definitely look to make a comeback in the Australian team and establish his place once and for all.

2012 – Unmukt Chand (India)

Unmukt Chand lit up the 2012 U-19 World Cup, and finished as the leading run-getter with 246 runs. In the finals, he displayed his prowess, as he stroked his way to a magnificent 111* against the mighty Aussies, taking India to a fabulous victory. Following the win, there was unprecedented hype around him.

#OnThisDay in 2012

India won their third Under-19 World Cup after captain Unmukt Chand scored an unbeaten century in the final against Australia. pic.twitter.com/v6QwHntdDA

— Bhagyesh joshi ? (@Cricbhagya82) August 26, 2020

However, Chand got a rude shock when he was bowled on the first ball of the 2013 IPL season. He never recovered from that. He had a massive loss of form going forward and even his domestic performances weren’t up to the mark. In no time, he had completely fallen off the radar of the selectors. Today, he holds no IPL contract and has moved from Delhi to play Ranji Trophy for Uttarakhand. However, with age on his side, the talented Chand will surely be aiming for a comeback.

2014 – Aiden Markram (South Africa)

Aiden Markram led by example in the finals as he scored an unbeaten 66 to help his side emerge victorious against Pakistan. With South Africa’s batting reserves full at that time, Aiden didn’t straightaway make it to the national team. However, the stylish batsman eventually got his opportunity in 2017. He had a fantastic year, scoring 380 runs in Tests at an average of 95 and in the sole ODI he played, he scored 66.

The youngster, after a brilliant start to his international career, has slightly tapered off. He had a couple of lean series in 2018 and 2019. While he continues to remain an integral part of the South African set up, he will look to get back to scoring tons of runs, as he is surely someone Cricket South Africa has earmarked as a future leader.

2016 – Shimron Hetmyer (West Indies)

West Indies pulled off a heist in the 2016 U-19 World Cup, defeating the mighty favourites, India, in the finals. Shimron Hetmyer scored 23 in the finals and didn’t have a ground-breaking tournament, but his flair was evident. He made his debut for West Indies in 2017, but it was in the 2018 series against India in India where he announced his arrival. In the first two games, he scored 106 off 78 balls and then 94 off 64 balls, completely dominating India’s spinners.

Since that series in India, he has been a regular member of the West Indies team. The aggressive youngster was bought by the Delhi Capitals for a huge sum of 7.75 crores in the last auction and is currently playing for them in UAE.

2018 – Prithvi Shaw (India)

Prithvi Shaw, a cricketing prodigy, led India to the cup, without losing a single game. Shaw, who has been touted to be the next big thing in Indian cricket from a very young age, thanks to his exploits in junior cricket, scored 261 runs in 5 innings at a brilliant strike rate of 96. Such a talent couldn’t be kept out for long and, in spite of India’s rich reserves of batsmen, made his Test debut in 2018. He straightaway made an impact scoring 237 runs in 3 innings against West Indies, including a ton.

Shaw is currently at the cusp of finding a regular spot in the Indian team. His aggressive batsmanship is exemplary. He is currently an integral part of Delhi Capitals in the IPL and we are sure to see a lot of him in the coming years.

2020 – Akbar Ali (Bangladesh)

Bangladesh Under-19 wicketkeeper- captain Akbar Ali led his team to Under-19 World Cup victory despite his elder sister’s death mid-tournament.#U19CWC #IndiaVsBangladesh #ICC #INDvBAN pic.twitter.com/qrBYRV8BCV

— Axomiya Nabaprajanma (@Nabaprajanma) February 11, 2020

The young Akbar Ali had his name etched in record books, as he led Bangladesh to their first ICC title in their cricketing history. Under him, the Bangla Tigers were not excitable players, but determined individuals who came together to form a champion team. In the final against the obvious favourites India, he held his nerve and scored an unbeaten 43 which helped his team cross the line.

Akbar Ali, with his temperament and skill, is surely going to break into the Bangladesh team soon. Since the pandemic, Bangladesh cricket hasn’t resumed. The youngster is currently waiting with bated breaths, hoping to find an opening in the senior team soon enough.