'Delhi boys as captain are lucky charm for India' - Sarandeep Singh hails Yash Dhull after India storms into U19 WC semifinal

Former India selector Sarandeep Singh has said that Delhi boys leading the India U19 team are a lucky charm for the team. Singh’s comments came after the Yash Dhull-led side beat the defending champions Bangladesh by five wickets on January 29 to advance to the semis.

Asked to bat first, the Bangladesh tumbled out for a below-par total of 111. In reply, the Men In Blue chased down the target after losing five wickets. Meanwhile, there are two instances when a Delhi-born player has led the Colts team and won the title. In 2008, the Colts won the trophy under the leadership of Virat Kohli. Four years later, another Delhi boy, Unmukt Chand, led the 2012 team to victory.

Reminiscing the victories, the former selector is hoping that the current skipper scores big against Australia in the semifinals.

“Delhi boys as captains are lucky charm for India. What Virat Kohli and Unmukt Chand did as under-19 captains, they contributed a lot. Unmukt Chand scored a century in the (U-19 WC) final. I hope Yash comes and plays a bigger knock in the semifinal,” Sarandeep was quoted by Times of India.

“The legacy which is there should carry on and (the team should) play better cricket against the Australians because they are playing well,” he added.

Ravi Kumar looks like a wicket-taking bowler: Sarandeep Singh

The 42-year-old added that pacer Ravi Kumar looks like a wicket-taking bowler. Singh further added that the pacer is not the one to concentrate on pace, which is the case with a lot of U19 pacers. Kumar took three wickets against Bangladesh in the quarter-final and was adjudged Player of the Match.

“Pacer Ravi Kumar is a tall guy. The way he swings the ball, with the ball going outside as well as swinging inside, he looks like a wicket-taking bowler. He always looks to take wickets. He is not the one to concentrate on pace. At under-19 level, the youngsters look to bowl quick at 140-145 (kmph), but this boy shows how talented he is. He is bowling quick. He is bowling in good line. He is getting early breakthroughs for his team,” Sarandeep said.