Madan Lal Lauds India's U19 World Cup Triumph, Predicts Bright Future for Cricket
Former Indian cricketer Madan Lal has enthusiastically praised India's Under-19 cricket team for their recent World Cup victory, declaring that the win signifies a very bright future for Indian cricket. In an interview with ANI, Lal expressed his admiration for the team's exceptional performance throughout the tournament.
Record-Breaking Performance in the Final
India U19 clinched their sixth ICC Under-19 World Cup title by defeating England U19 by 100 runs in a thrilling final at Harare Sports Club. Opting to bat first, India set a monumental total of 411/9, a record-breaking score in Youth ODI cricket. The innings was spearheaded by Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who smashed a scintillating 175 runs off just 80 balls, including 15 fours and 15 sixes. Captain Ayush Mhatre contributed 53 runs, while Abhigyan Kundu added 40 runs to bolster the score.
Madan Lal specifically highlighted Suryavanshi's innings, stating, "He played a fantastic innings, and I think the future of Indian cricket is very bright. Because all the youngsters who played in this World Cup have performed exceptionally well." He also noted his surprise at the high scoring rates in modern 50-over matches, emphasizing the team's aggressive and skilled approach.
India's Dominance in ICC Tournaments
This victory cements India's status as a powerhouse in junior cricket, with the team now holding five major ICC titles simultaneously: the Men's T20 World Cup (2024), ICC Champions Trophy (2025), Women's ODI World Cup (2025), Women's U19 World Cup (2025), and the Men's U19 World Cup (2026). The win extends India's record of Under-19 World Cup triumphs to years including 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, 2022, and now 2026, while England remains without a second title since 1998.
Additionally, India set a new record by hitting 31 sixes in the final, surpassing the previous Youth ODI mark of 23. This dominant display, combined with disciplined bowling, underscores the depth of talent emerging from the BCCI Academy and highlights the country's growing dominance across formats and age groups.
Support from Cricket Community
Virat Kohli's childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma, echoed similar sentiments, congratulating the entire Indian team, support staff, selectors, and the BCCI for their role in promoting young talent. "This is a great achievement. It's a tremendous victory, and I would like to congratulate the whole Indian team... I think the credit must be given to all of them, and it is a big victory and a very great moment for Indian cricket," he said.
Despite England's resilience, with Caleb Falconer scoring a valiant 115 off 67 balls, they fell short, losing momentum from 142/2 to 177/7. The triumph also completes a rare double, with India holding both the Men's and Women's Under-19 World Cup titles simultaneously, further solidifying their reputation in global cricket.
Brief Scores: India: 411/9 (Vaibhav Suryavanshi 175, Ayush Mhatre 53, James Minto 3/63) beat England: 311 (Caleb Falconer 115, Ben Dawkins 66, RS Ambrish 3/56).
