U-19 World Cup final, key contests and tip-off XI: Aussie pacers vs Indian top batsmen, tweaker Saumy vs Oz southpaws | Cricket News

As India Colts take on Australian Juniors in the final of the World Cup in Benoni, South Africa, there are plenty of mouth watering clashes lined up.
Australia’s fast bowling has been their trump card in this U19 World Cup campaign, with the trio Tom Straker, Mahli Beardman, Callum Vidler sharing 31 wickets between them. They will pose a great threat to the Indian top-order, who has struggled against the quality pace attack of South Africa in the semi-final. Indian openers Adarsh Singh and Arshin Kulkarni have not had a fifty-plus opening stand in the tournament so far.
India’s top-order looked all at sea against Kwena Maphaka and Tran Luus and in the final, they will face the music again. Australian pacers Vidler and Straker too are known for extra zip and pace on the ball. Arshin Kulkarni, notably, has struggled with seam movement early on in his innings, particularly outside his off-stump. Three of his dismissals in the tournament have come with edges behind to the wicketkeeper or the slip cordon. The lack of foot movement led to Kulkarni’s shorter stays at the wicket in the tournament. Musheer Khan has been India’s most talked-about batsman, and like his brother Sarfaraz Khan, has his shortcomings against pace.

Some serious business behind the scenes at the captains’ photoshoot ahead of the final 😉#U19WorldCup pic.twitter.com/imbQDOuzhz
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) February 10, 2024
A quick pitch at Benoni will only add to the spectacle and the Australian quicks are ready to expose the chinks in India’s batting. “We have a pretty good bowling attack. We’ve scared a few teams during this tournament and hopefully we do the same to India in the final,” Straker was quoted as saying cricket.com.au.
“The pitch here is a bit bouncy too. As you’ve seen throughout the tournament, we use our bouncers a lot so that will be part of our game plan. All the boys here, especially Mahli and Vidler, love a bumper … we’re Australian fast bowlers, of course, we love a bumper, so I’m sure there will be plenty of those.”

Five dominant victories, followed a nervy run chase in the semi-final against South Africa 🙌
We detail how India progressed through to the #U19World Cup Final ⬇️https://t.co/pilXrzL1hi
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) February 9, 2024
Saumy Pandey vs Australia’s left-handers
Saumy Pandey has troubled right-handers with his tight bowling through the middle overs in this tournament. However, in the semi-final against Lhuan-dre Pretorius, the slow left arm looked in a hurry to complete his over. In Harry Dixon, Harjas Singh, and Oliver Peake, Australia have three left-handed batsmen in their top six. Saumy has been the best left-arm spinner in the tournament, and the prospect of facing him in the final will be a daunting one but it would be interesting to see whether he will be an attacking force when he will bowl against the southpaws.

A journey to remember for Hugh Weibgen’s group 🛣
Australia’s campaign ahead of their #U19WorldCup Final meeting with India 👇https://t.co/F2brmhvx5l
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) February 10, 2024
Clash of the captains
Just like Uday Saharan, Hugh Weibgen, too has marshalled his troops brilliantly. The captains have led example when the chips were down. Both have been their team’s pillars in the middle order. Saharan has rescued his team multiple times, the most recent is the fey 81 he scored against South Africa. He has scored a fantastic century against Nepal and the fifties against Bangladesh and Ireland are equally praiseworthy. Weibgen too has scored a crafty 120 against arch-rivals England at the group stage.
Predicted XIs
Australia XI: Harry Dixon, Sam Konstas, Hugh Weibgen (c), Harjas Singh, Ryan Hicks (wk), Ollie Peake, Tom Campbell, Raf MacMillan, Tom Straker, Mahli Beardman, Callum Vidler
India XI: Adarsh Singh, Arshin Kulkarni, Musheer Khan, Uday Saharan (c), Priyanshu Moliya, Sachin Dhas, Aravelly Avanish (wk), Murugan Abhishek, Naman Tiwari, Raj Limbani, Saumy Pandey.