ICC Under 19 World Cup: How Did Defending Champs India Make It To 3rd Successive Finals

India who have been the most successful team in the history of the showpiece event with four titles in their kitty (2000, 2008, 2012 and 2018) will look to add a record extending 5th title when they take on sub continent rivals Bangladesh in the title clash on Sunday.

New Delhi: Defending champions India booked a spot in their third straight final at the ICC Under 19 World Cup being played at South Africa after they thumped arch rivals Pakistan by 10 wickets in the Super League semifinals played at on Feb 4.

India who have been the most successful team in the history of the showpiece event with four titles in their kitty (2000, 2008, 2012 and 2018) will look to add a record extending 5th title when they take on sub continent rivals Bangladesh in the title clash on Sunday. Bangladesh had beaten New Zealand in the second Super League semifinals to register their maiden berth in the title clash and set up an all subcontinent affair for the coveted trophy.

India would fancy their chances against the 'Bangla Tigers' in the grand finale riding high on their impressive build up to the grand finale which saw them registering clinical wins over Sri Lanka, Japan and New Zealand in the group stages before coming up with impressive wins over Australia in the quarters and Pakistan in the semifinals. Here is a look at how the Indian team made it to the finals at the ICC Under 19 World Cup INDIA TOPPED  GROUP A WITH THREE CLINICAL WINS INDIA THUMP SRI LANKA BY 90 RUNS Clubbed with Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Japan in Group A, India started off their World Cup campaign in emphatic style by trouncing Sri Lanka by 90 runs in their tournament opener at Bloemfontein. India piled on a mammoth 297 run total on the back of half tons by skipper Priyam Garg (56) , opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (59)  and wicket-keeper batsman Dhruv Jurel. There were handy contributions by Tilak Varma (46) and a fiery knock by Siddhesh Veer (44) which propelled India to set a daunting target against Sri Lanka After a stellar effort with the bat, the bowlers came to the party by restricting Sri Lanka to 207 and script an emphatic 90 run win for the team. Leg spinner Ravi Bishnoi and medium pacer Akash Singh were particularly impressive picking up 2 wickets each. INDIA TROUNCE JAPAN BY 10 WICKETS India continued their winning momentum in the tournament by trouncing Asian minnows Japan by 10 wickets in their next group assignment at Bloemfontein. The Indians bowled out Japan for a paltry 41, the lowest total in the tournament .

The Indian bowlers struck havoc in the Japanese batting with leggie Ravi Bishnoi casting a web, scalping four wickets for five runs. Seamer Kartik Tyagi did the damage upfront with a menacing opening spell to run through the Japanese top order. Chasing a 42-run target, the Indian opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Kumar Kushagra cantered away to the target in just 4.5 overs.

INDIA BEAT NEW ZEALAND BY 44 RUNS (DLS METHOD) India made it three out of three wins after beating New Zealand in their third and final group fixture at  Bloemfontein. In a rail curtailed match, which got reduced to 23 overs-a-side, India posted 115 on the board with openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (57) and Divyansh Saxena (52) leading the charge with belligerent fifties.

With rain intervening in the match, the Kiwis were set a stiff revised target of 192. Leg spinner Ravi Bishnoi then showed his craft picking up 4 for 30 to run through the Kiwis middle order. Meanwhile, Atharva Ankolekar made the early inroads into the Black Caps batting with three quick wickets up front. The result ensured that India topped the group and secured a deserving berth in the quarterfinals against Australia.

SUPER LEAGUE QUARTER-FINALS - INDIA BEAT AUSTRALIA BY 74 RUNS India did not fare too well with the willow batting first against Australia in the quarterfinal , putting up a below par total of 233-9. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal provided the opening salvo with a breezy 62 and Atharva Ankolekar provided much required late flourish with an unbeaten 55-run knock. After a relatively poor batting display, the Indian bowlers came to the fore bowling out the Australians for 159 and clinching the encounter by 74 runs.

Seamer Kartik Tyagi was the main tormentor, scalping 4 wickets in a fiery opening spell, medium pacer Aakash Singh backed it up with a terrific spell towards the death to seal a win for the Indians and help them secure a berth in the semifinals.

SUPER LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL-  INDIA TROUNCE PAKISTAN BY 10 WICKETS

India locked horns with arch rivals Pakistan in the first Super League Semifinal at Potchefstroom. The Indians inflicted a crushing 10 wicket defeat on their sub continent rivals to book a place in the finals. After bowling out Pakistan for 172, India coasted away to the target on the back of a stellar ton by in-form opener Yashavi Jaiswal and a well compiled half ton by Divyansh Saxena.

Earlier in the match, Sushant Mishra wrecked through the Pakistani batting lineup with a fiery opening spell. Ravi Bishnoi and Kartik Tyagi were equal to the task in polishing off the Pakistan middle order and help the defending champions reach their third successive final at the marquee event.