Danish Kaneria Applauds India's U19 World Cup Triumph, Spotlights Future Star Vaibhav Suryavanshi
Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria has extended heartfelt congratulations to the Indian Under-19 team for clinching a record-extending sixth U19 World Cup title on Friday, February 7, 2026. In an exclusive interview with ANI from New York, USA, Kaneria lauded the young squad's dominant performance, with a special focus on the explosive batting display by Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi's Masterclass Steals the Show
The highlight of India's victory was undoubtedly Vaibhav Suryavanshi's monumental innings of 175 runs off just 80 balls, featuring 15 fours and 15 sixes. This blistering knock propelled India to a formidable total of 411/9 in the final against England, who ultimately fell short by 100 runs. Kaneria emphasized that Suryavanshi's heroics are a clear indicator of his bright future in cricket.
"Many congratulations to the Indian Under-19 team. Vaibhav Suryavanshi is amazing. He should be brought into the team very soon. He is playing brilliantly at such a young age. India is going to get a new star. He is already a star in the Under-19 team, but given the kind of form he is in, he will soon be wearing the Indian team jersey," Kaneria stated enthusiastically.
Praise for India's Depth of Talent and Competitive Spirit
Kaneria also commended other standout performers from the Indian camp, including captain Ayush Mhatre and left-handed batsman Abhigyan Kundu. He noted that Mhatre played a crucial role with a half-century of 53 runs off 51 balls, while Kundu contributed a brisk 40 off 31 deliveries. However, Kaneria cautioned that the intense competition within Indian cricket means these young players must continue to work hard to secure their places in the senior team.
"No doubt, India has great talent. Even if you look at their team, Mhatre plays very well. I also liked Kundu very much. He is left-handed and short in height, but what a player he is. He expresses himself with the bat, and he hits big sixes. And I think India is getting good talent. The boys will have to work hard because there is intense competition in India. And to get into the team, you have to work very hard. They are very good players. They won the 6th U19 World Cup for India," he elaborated.
Match Recap: India's Commanding Victory Over England
In the U19 World Cup 2026 final, India opted to bat first and set a massive target thanks to Suryavanshi's record-shattering innings, supported by Mhatre and Kundu. England, in response, struggled early but saw notable performances from Ben Dawkins (66 off 56 balls) and Caleb Falconer, who scored a valiant 115 off 67 balls with nine fours and seven sixes. Despite Falconer's efforts, England collapsed to 311 all out, marking their continued title drought since 1998.
Future Prospects: A Dynamic Opening Pair on the Horizon
Looking ahead, Kaneria expressed optimism about India's T20 cricket prowess, suggesting that a potential opening partnership between Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Suryavanshi could soon terrorize bowlers on the international stage. He emphasized that consistent performances will be key to realizing this vision.
"The way the Indian team is playing T20 cricket, it is next level. The way Abhishek Sharma is batting, if you think that Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Suryavanshi open the innings for India in future, what will happen to the bowlers? I think it's not far away. But they will have to keep performing," Kaneria concluded, highlighting the exciting future for Indian cricket.
