'We’re ready to face all the challenges' - Uday Saharan exudes confidence ahead of U19 World Cup final against Australia
"If there was any other side in front of us, we would’ve played in the same fashion,” said Saharan.
In the buildup to the highly anticipated U19 World Cup final between India and Australia at Sahara Park Willowmoore Cricket Stadium in Benoni on Sunday, February 11, India's U19 captain, Uday Saharan, exuded confidence in his team's readiness. Saharan expressed that India, the defending champions, are primed to face Australia with utmost preparation, treating the encounter like any other game.
With a historical pursuit in sight, India will aim to clinch their sixth U19 World Cup title, extending their record reign in the tournament. Having previously triumphed in 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, and 2022, India seek to etch another milestone in their cricketing journey against a formidable Australian side.
“We are very excited for the finals. Everyone’s fit and well-prepared and has a good mindset. We’ve seen the wickets. We’ve played there before, and we know quite a bit about it. We’re ready to face all the challenges. We are taking this as any other game. It’s a final, if there was any other side in front of us, we would’ve played in the same fashion,” Saharan said as quoted by India Today.
The 19-year-old highlighted India's resilient victory over South Africa in the semi-final and noted the valuable contributions from their middle and lower-order batters under pressure. Ahead of the final clash, both India and Australia maintain unbeaten records. However, India secured victories in all encounters, while Australia faced a no-result against the West Indies during the Super-6 stage.
“We were quite prepared for a close match. It was good that we had a close match. Now our middle and lower order have also faced the pressure of performing in tough situations. These are the lessons we’ll take forward,” Saharan added.
India step into U19 World Cup Finals unbeaten
India's road to the 2024 U19 World Cup final has been paved with commanding displays and a string of convincing wins. They initiated their journey with an 84-run triumph over Bangladesh followed by a resounding 201-run victory against Ireland. Sustaining their momentum, they overwhelmed the USA by 201 runs during the group stage.
In the Super Sixes phase, India upheld their dominance, as they vanquished New Zealand by 214 runs and Nepal by 132 runs. Their semi-final encounter against South Africa was a tense affair, as India successfully chased down 245 runs, propelled by captain Uday Saharan and batter Sachin Dhas, who formed a pivotal partnership, and secured a nail-biting victory by two wickets.
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