India is one of the biggest powerhouses in cricket. The Indian team is dominant not only on the international stage but also at the U-19 level. The U-19 Indian team has always been a great team and led to the rise of many great cricketers. The 2008 U-19 World Cup-winning team also gave rise to some regulars in the international team that we see today. Today we will take a look at 6 players from the 2008 U-19 World Cup squad who went on to play for India.
#1. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli led the Under-19 team to a World Cup victory in 2008. Kohli was the third-highest run-scorer in the tournament, scoring 235 runs from 6 innings. He averaged 47 and also scored a century in the tournament.
Kohli made his international debut in the August of 2008 during India’s tour of Sri Lanka at the age of 19. He opened for India in the ODI series as Sachin and Sehwag were injured. He scored 12 runs in his debut first match. Since then, Kohli’s stock has only risen. The talented cricketer is making his case to be called one of the greatest batsmen of all time. He took over the reins of the Indian team from MS Dhoni, and now captains the team in all formats of the game. He is without a doubt the most successful call-ups from the 2008 U-19 World Cup squad.
#2. Saurabh Tiwary
Saurabh Tiwary is known for his explosive batting and powerful shots. The left-hand batsman was one of the main batsmen who helped India win the 2008 U-19 World Cup. Tiwary played a supporting role in the tournament, scoring 115 runs.
Tiwary made his international debut in October 2010 against Australia when some players were rested. However, despite being a great batsman, Tiwary couldn’t maintain his place in the squad. But he didn’t let this bog him down and made his name in the IPL. Saurabh Tiwary is a regular in the IPL now and is still one of the most explosive Indian batsmen in the tournament today.
#3. Manish Pandey
While Manish Pandey didn’t make much of an impact in the tournament, he was an integral part of the 2008 U-19 World Cup squad. He scored 72 runs from 5 innings in the tournament and maintained an average of 24.
Pandey made his international debut against Zimbabwe in an ODI in 2015. He made a dream debut, building a 144-run partnership with Kedar Jadhav. Pandey bailed India out of a precarious situation and scored an important 71 runs for the team. He is now gearing up for the Sri Lanka series and will look to put on a strong showing.
#4. Abhinav Mukund
Abhinav Mukund was a part of the 2008 U-19 World Cup squad but did not play a single match in the entire tournament. Consistent performances in domestic cricket earned him a spot in the Test side against West Indies in 2011.
Mukund failed to make the most of his opportunities and was promptly dropped from the team. He briefly made an appearance in the international squad in the 2016-17 home season but failed to make an impact once again. Mukund is a great player in the domestic circuit, and his legacy is cemented there.
#5. Siddharth Kaul
Siddharth Kaul was one of the leading wicket-takers for India in the 2008 U-19 World Cup. He won the final for the team, defending 19 runs in the final over. His performances in and after the 2008 U-19 World Cup earned him a call-up to the international side.
Kaul made his international debut in 2018 against Ireland in a T20I match. He didn’t make much of an impact and was dropped soon. Kaul is a talented fast bowler, and now is a regular in the Indian Premier League.
#6. Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja is one of the best all-rounders in the world today. He was the vice-captain of the U-19 squad when they won the World Cup. Jadeja is now established as one of India’s most critical players.
He made his international debut in an ODI match against Sri Lanka in December 2009. Since then, Jadeja has evolved into a cricketing icon and won countless matches for the Indian team. He makes a strong case as one of the best all-rounders of all time and is surely one of the biggest success stories in India’s U-19 cricket.
