The U19 World Cup has given India so many amazing talents through the years. The first ICC Under-19 World Cup took place in 1998 which was then called the youth World Cup. India has been the most dominant side in the history of the tournament. They have sealed the trophy five times. Mohammed Kaif became the first Indian captain to win the U19 world cup in 2000.

India again won the trophy in 2008 under Virat Kohli. India again ended up on the winning side in 2012, 2018, and 2022 under Unmukt Chand, Prithvi Shaw, and<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/indias-u19-world-cup-winning-captain-yash-dhull-felicitated-by-dc-bal-bhavan-academy/"> Yash Dhull</a> respectively. Cricket is the most celebrated sport in India and Indian cricket fans treat the sport like a religion. The Under-19 world cup provides a center stage and a huge amount of opportunities for budding cricketers in India.

Successful cricketers like Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Rishabh Pant were first seen in the respective U19 World Cups they played. India recently became the champions for the fifth time. Yash Dhull led India to glory on the sixth of February 2022. They defeated England in the finals. There have been some cricketers who have won the Under-19 trophy for India but haven’t got a chance to represent the senior team.

Best XI of U19 World Cup who couldn&#8217;t represent India

1. Unmukt Chand (2012) (c)

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-549941" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Unmukt-Chand-1.jpg" alt="Unmukt Chand" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-549941" class="wp-caption-text">Unmukt Chand. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Unmukt Chand is the only Indian U19 World Cup-winning captain who has not played for India. He can’t blame his luck or the higher authorities because his performances have not been up to the mark. He hammered an unbeaten 111 in the final of the 2012 under-19 World Cup final and ensured his team a win in the tournament.

At that time, he was considered as the next big thing in Indian cricket but unfortunately, he was deprived of playing for his nation. After his successful run in the Under-19 World Cup, he got picked by Delhi Capitals (then Delhi Daredevils) in the 2011 IPL auction and was there till 2013. In 2014 he was seen representing the Rajasthan Royals franchise in the cash-rich league.

He also had a good run with Mumbai Indians in 2015 and 2016. But after 2016, he never got picked by any IPL franchises as he was not performing as per the standards. He decided to part ways with cricket in India in 2021 and moved to the USA for better cricket opportunities. He became the first Indian men cricketer to play the Big Bash League when he took the field for Melbourne Renegades in 2021.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-218151" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Manjot-Kalra.jpg" alt="Manjot Kalra India" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-218151" class="wp-caption-text">Manjot Kalra. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Manjot Kalra was the opening partner of Prithvi Shaw of the winning Indian side in the 2018 edition of the tournament. He scored an unbeaten century in the final against Australia when India lost early wickets during the run chase. His ton was highly praised and appreciated by the cricket experts at that time. He was one of the most impressive players from that tournament.

The off-side shots with the left-hand elegance were a treat to watch. The Delhi batter was even compared with the Indian legend Yuvraj Singh at that time. The IPL auction for the 2018 season took place just after the tournament and Kalra got picked by <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2022-auctioneer-charu-sharma-mistakenly-sells-khaleel-ahmed-to-delhi-capitals-instead-of-mumbai-indians/">Delhi Capitals</a>. He was there for the following season too but he never got a chance to be a part of the playing 11.

The southpaw was dropped after the 2019 season by Delhi Capitals and he is yet to get an IPL contract after that. He made his T20 debut for Delhi in the 2018-19 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and List A debut in the 2020-21 Vijay Hazare Trophy. In January 2020, he was given a one-year suspension from playing In Ranji Trophy due to age fraud.

3. Prashant Chopra (2012)

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-592041" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Prashant-Chopra.jpg" alt="Prashant Chopra" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-592041" class="wp-caption-text">Prashant Chopra. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Prashant Chopra is a common name in the Indian domestic cricket setup. He holds the record for most runs scored by a Himachal Pradesh batter in a single Ranji Trophy season. He was part of the winning Indian side of the 2012 Under-19 World Cup alongside Unmukt Chand. In 2017, he scored an unbeaten 271 on the opening day of a Ranji Trophy game against Punjab.

He had to wait a lot to play the Indian Premier League as he was not considered a good white-ball player. He got picked by Rajasthan Royals in the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/tag/ipl-auction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IPL auction</a> for the 2018 season. He played two seasons for the Jaipur-based franchise and played only one game in each season. His gameplay suits the red ball cricket the most.

He was very impressive in his initial U19 days. He is blessed with plenty of natural ability and sound technique. He also got a call from the USA to move there like his teammate Unmukt Chand did. But, he has decided to stay in India and wait for his chance.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-350459" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/CT_363504.jpg" alt width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-350459" class="wp-caption-text"> Taruwar Kohli of India poses during the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup official team photo. (Photo by Peter Lim/Getty Images)</figcaption>

There were two Kohlis in the Indian camp for the 2008 Under-19 World Cup but both of them had very contrasting stories after the tournament. Taruwar Kohli was the teammate of Kohli in the 2008 edition of the tournament. He scored 218 runs in six matches in the junior World Cup slamming three consecutive fifties. He is the forgotten hero for <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2022-auctioneer-charu-sharma-mistakenly-sells-khaleel-ahmed-to-delhi-capitals-instead-of-mumbai-indians/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India.</a>

He finished as the third-highest run-getter in the tournament. He was a right-hand top-order batter and part-time medium pace bowler. He was one of the players after the tournament who got picked through drafts by IPL franchises ahead of the Inaugural season. He got picked by Punjab Kings in that season and his career never took off after that.

He had very ordinary performances in the cash-rich league and never got an IPL contract after 2009. He made his Ranji Trophy debut for Punjab in the 2008-09 season. His performances were decent but not that great to be picked to play the highest level of cricket. After getting dropped from the Punjab team, he moved to Mizoram to get better opportunities.

5. Shreevats Goswami (2008) (wk)

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-538203" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Shreevats-Goswami-.jpg" alt="Shreevats Goswami" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-538203" class="wp-caption-text">Shreevats Goswami. (Photo Source: Instagram)</figcaption>

The wicketkeeper batter was the vital cog for the Indian side in the 2008 edition of the tournament. His performances have been decent through the years but he has been unsuccessful in catching the eyes of the Indian selectors. He has been a prominent member of the Bengal cricket team in domestic tournaments.

He played the 2008 IPL season for Royal Challengers Bangalore alongside his teammate Virat Kohli. He was the first player to get the emerging player award in the Indian Premier League. He was one of the players who were in talks after the first IPL season. He later played for <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/kkr-players-list-2022-complete-kolkata-knight-riders-squad-and-players-list-for-ipl-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kolkata Knight Riders</a>, Rajasthan Royals, and SunRisers Hyderabad in the gala cricket league.

He has set many records playing for Bengal in domestic cricket. He is the second-highest run-getter in the history of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He has played for India A and Broad President’s XI in some games but he is yet to get the India debut cap.

6. Abhishek Sharma (2018)

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-567821" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Abhishek-Sharma.jpg" alt="Abhishek Sharma" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-567821" class="wp-caption-text">Abhishek Sharma. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

Abhishek Sharma was part of the team that won the 2008 Under-19 World Cup under the captaincy of Prithvi Shaw. Before that tournament, he led India U19 to the Asia Cup title in December 2016. He has played U19 cricket for a span of two-three years. Abhishek Sharma idolizes the Indian veteran Yuvraj Singh and follows him a lot.

Even before the World Cup in 2018, he had already made his List A debut for Punjab in Vijay Hazare Trophy. He was one of the heroes from that World Cup. He was picked by Delhi Capitals right after the tournament and he made his IPL debut against Royal Challengers Bangalore in that IPL season. As of now, he has not got so many chances in <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2022-jonty-rhodes-takes-up-dual-role-of-batting-and-fielding-coach-at-punjab-kings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IPL</a>.

The Punjab all-rounder has a bright future ahead of him. He is just 21 years old and will get many opportunities in the coming years. He has played 22 IPL games and has scored 241 and has picked seven wickets. He has been brought back by SRH in the mega auction.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-319995" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Iqbal-Abdullah.jpg" alt="Iqbal Abdullah" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-319995" class="wp-caption-text">Iqbal Abdullah. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Iqbal Abdulla was a member of the 2008 Under-19 World Cup-winning Indian team in Malaysia. He played with Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Manish Pander, and Siddharth Kaul in that tournament. Iqbal Abdulla has been playing IPL from the first season and is a familiar name for cricket fans. He is a left-handed lower-order batter.

He plays domestic cricket for Mumbai and has been there for a long time. He made his debut for Mumbai in 2007 in domestic cricket. In 2016, he decided to part ways with Mumbai in domestic cricket and moved to Kerala. He again came to play for Mumbai in 2017 after spending two years with Kerala. He was Mumbai’s leading wicket-taker in the 2010-11 domestic season.

He was a draft pick of Kolkata Knight Riders for the inaugural IPL season in 2008. He was there for a long time. He played six IPL seasons for KKR before getting picked by Rajasthan Royals in 2014. In 2015, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2022-3-captaincy-options-available-for-rcb/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RCB</a> bought him in the auction. He executed some good performances for RCB between 2015 to 2017. He got released by RCB before the 2018 season and he has not got an IPL contract after that.

8. Kamlesh Nagarkoti (2018)

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-488963" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kamlesh-Nagarkoti.jpg" alt="Kamlesh Nagarkoti" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-488963" class="wp-caption-text">Kamlesh Nagarkoti. (Photo Source: Instagram)</figcaption>

Kamlesh Nagarkoti caught the eye of the Indian cricket fans when he was clicking the 140 km ph mark consistently in the 2018 Under-19 World Cup. He played the tournament alongside Shubman Gill and Prithvi Shaw. His batting ability alongside his bowling was a thing that India is craving for ages. In addition, he is a gun fielder too.

He made his List A debut for Rajasthan in the 2016-17 Vijay Hazare Trophy. In his second game of that season, he claimed a hat-trick which was the first-ever hat-trick by a Rajasthan bowler in List A cricket. Since then, he has picked 11 wickets in nine List-A games and has scored 131 runs. His short career has seen a lot of injuries.

He was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the 2018 season when he was playing in the Under-19 World Cup. But due to his injuries, he had to wait for two years to make his IPL debut. He played his first IPL game in 2020 for KKR. He is very young and will get many opportunities going forward in his cricket career. He got picked by DC for INR 1.10 crore in the mega auction.

9. Pradeep Sangwan (2008)

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-233470" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Pradeep-Sangwan.jpg" alt="Pradeep Sangwan" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-233470" class="wp-caption-text">Pradeep Sangwan. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

The tall fast bowler from Delhi was very impressive in the 2008 Under-19 World Cup. He had made a name for himself during the World Cup. He was even preferred by Delhi Capitals ahead of Virat Kohli during the draft picks for the first IPL season. The left-arm pacer was considered as the future of Indian fast bowling at that time.

He made his FC debut in 2007 and List A debut in 2008 for Delhi. Despite making his debut years ago, he has not played many games in domestic cricket. He has played IPL for several franchises. As of now, he has played 39 IPL games in which he has 35 dismissals to his name. He was spitting fire during his U19 days.

He was tested positive for doping during a random doping test during IPL 2013. He was slapped with a 15-month ban by BCCI from all forms of the game after that. He returned to competitive cricket in the 2015-16 Ranji Trophy season. He got 32 wickets in that tournament. In 2018, he was picked by <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/jofra-archer-will-make-a-formidable-partnership-with-jasprit-bumrah-once-he-is-fit-mumbai-indians-owner-aakash-ambani/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mumbai Indians</a> in the IPL auction.

10. Ajitesh Argal (2008)

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-368178" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ajitesh-Argal.jpg" alt="Ajitesh Argal" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-368178" class="wp-caption-text">Ajitesh Argal. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Ajitesh Argal is a lost hero who played a prominent role in India winning the 2008 U19 World Cup. He was a right-hand pace bowler who used to deceive the batter with his clever bowling. Argal formed an effective new-ball attack in that tournament. The Bhopal-born fast bowler was in talks after that tournament. Argal played domestic cricket for Baroda.

He played 10 FC games for Madhya Pradesh and picked 24 wickets. He also played three List A games for Madhya Pradesh. He was in the squad of Punjab Kings in the first season of IPL but he had not got a chance to make his IPL debut. He played his last FC game in 2015 against Madhya Pradesh. He stopped playing cricket after that.

He was the man of the match in the final of the ICC 2008 <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/under19-world-cup-2022-medical-staffs-hilarious-entry-onto-the-field-goes-viral/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Under-19 World Cup</a> with an impressive two for seven off five overs. Ajitesh never tasted success in his cricket career after that tournament despite having huge expectations on his shoulders. He retired from cricket at an early age and was later recruited as an inspector in the income tax department through the sports quota.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-605218" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Anup-Dave.jpg" alt="Anup Dave" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-605218" class="wp-caption-text">Anup-Dave (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Anup Dave was part of the first Indian Under-19 World Cup winning team in 2000. Mohammed Kaif captained the Indian side in that tournament. Anup Dave ended up being the fifth-highest wicket-taker of the tournament and played a vital role in India winning that tournament. He was a slow left-arm spinner with a classical action.

Dave played domestic cricket for Rajasthan. He made his Ranji Trophy debut for Rajasthan in the 1998-99 season. He was a vital cog for Rajasthan in domestic cricket between 1998 to 2005. He picked 29 wickets in 16 FC matches and 43 wickets in 28 List A matches. His left-arm spin seemed very tricky for the batters playing him.

The left-arm spinner picked 13 wickets in the U19 World Cup at a bowling average of less than 14. He picked the wicket of Malintha Gajanayake, the captain of the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/sri-lanka-fined-for-slow-over-rate-in-the-second-t20i-against-australia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sri Lankan</a> U19 team in the final of the World Cup. And bowled an economical spell. In 2018, a book was launched titled “Could be a hero” which featured the story of Anup Dave highlighting his journey.

India won the recently concluded U19 World Cup under the captaincy of Yash Dhull.

Best XI of U19 World Cup winning players who couldn’t play for India

The U19 World Cup has given India so many amazing talents through the years after the first ICC Under-19 World Cup took place in 1998.