The matches played between India National Under-19 Cricket Team and the Australia National Under-19 Cricket Team have been some of the most exciting contests in international youth cricket, and the rivalry has resulted in a long history between the two teams. These two heavyweights have faced each other many times in the past, resulting in exciting encounters and unveiling future stars that later went on to excel at the senior level. This is a complete timeline of their meetings that will be updated with their best games, their best performance and the history of their rivalry.
Rivalry: India National Under-19 Cricket vs Australia National Under-19 Cricket Team
India vs. Australia in Under-19 is not merely a cricketing contest, but a face-off of cricketing cultures and talent. Both countries have been known to be the land of champions when it comes to the cricketing world with both national sides producing all-time best cricketers and their under-19s being a cradle for future superstars.
Early Encounters (1980s and 1990s)
The Under-19 World Cup which was earlier called as Youth World Cup had its inaugural year in 1988. The inaugural edition had its own foray between India and Australia, with Australia being one of the top three teams.
Key Matches:
- 1988 ICC Youth World Cup:
Australia’s depth in youth cricket helped it win against India Highlighted performances included Brett Williams (Australia) while India flashed promise but lacked consistancy.
The Rise of the Rivalry (2000s)
However, the rivalry started heating up in the 2000s, as the two teams began facing each other more often in ICC Under-19 tournaments and bilateral series.
Key Matches:
- 2000 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup Final
Under Mohammad Kaif’s captaincy, India conquered Australia to clinch their first U-19 World Cup. Yuvraj Singh all-round show was the biggest factor in this tournament.
- 2002 Tri-Series in Australia:
It’s this series wasn’t — this series was a competitive series between both sides. India were beaten in the final, by Australia, but the likes of Irfan Pathan and Shikhar Dhawan attracted attention.
India’s Dominance (2010s)
In the 2010s, India ruled the youth game, with their U-19 team getting the better of Australia in knockout matches time and again.
Key Matches:
- 2012 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup Final
India prevailed over Australia in a pulsating final in Townsville. The game was marked by Unmukt Chand’s unbeaten century (111). India chased down 226 to clinch the trophy.
- 2018 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup Final
The Indian team, under the guidance of Rahul Dravid, put up a blistering performance against Australia. Stars such as Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill and Kamlesh Nagarkoti helped India to a resounding eight-wicket victory over a lowly Australia total of 216.
Recent Clashes (2020s)
The 2020s saw no let-up in the competitiveness of the two sides, with Australia attempting to reclaim their former superiority and India looking to retain their ascendancy.
Key Matches:
- 2022 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup Semi-Final
India beat Australia in an intense semi-final. For the final Shaik Rasheed and Yash Dhull were the key players that led India to the finals.
- 2023 Bilateral Series in India
Australia visited India for a five-match ODI series, and the hosts won the series by a score of 3–2, with the depth of youth that the country currently possesses.
India National Under-19 Cricket vs Australia National Under-19 Cricket Team Statistics
The following is a summary of the head-to-head encounters between India and Australia in ICC U-19 tournaments and other bilateral series:
| Format | Matches Played | India Wins | Australia Wins | Tied/No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICC U-19 World Cup | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0 |
| Bilateral Series | 20 | 12 | 8 | 0 |
| Total | 35 | 22 | 13 | 0 |
India vs Australia Key Players
Over the years, a number of players have enjoyed moments in the limelight in this rivalry, before going on to represent the senior sides.
India:
- Yuvraj Singh
- Shikhar Dhawan
- Virat Kohli
- Prithvi Shaw
- Shubman Gill
Australia:
- Brett Williams
- Shaun Marsh
- Pat Cummins
- Josh Hazlewood
- Cameron Green
Impact on International Cricket
This rivalry has played a vital role in molding international cricket. Both sides have churned out their own share of cricketers who went on to conquer world cricket. India and Australia encounters at the U-19 stage was often regarded as a precursor to future senior-level Face-offs.
Conclusion
The rivalry between the India National Under-19 Cricket Team and the Australia National Under-19 Cricket Team has long been an important part of youth cricket. A rivalry that has seen its fair share of iconic matches, you can count on more jaw-dropping clashes to come. The two sides have been setting benchmarks with their respective talent development over the years and this is precisely why their matches has attracted cricket lovers far and wide.
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