Cricket: West Indies beat India, win Under-19 World Cup
West Indies bagged their first ever Under-19 World Cup, beating India by five wickets in Mirpur, Bangladesh. India was bowled out for 145, a target that outstanding performances by West Indies' Keemo Paul and Keacy Carty helped cross with just 3 balls to spare. India lost its first youth ODI since the Under-19 World Cup Quarterfinals in 2014.
On 6 June, 2015 former Indian captain Rahul Dravid took the responsibility of coaching the India-A and U-19 cricket teams.
The 2016 edition of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup, will be held in Bangladesh from 27 January to 14 February. It will be the eleventh edition of the Under-19 Cricket World Cup, and the second to be held in Bangladesh, after the 2004 event. The tournament will feature the nine Full Members, alongside seven of the leading Associate and Affiliate teams.
For the group stage matches, 16 teams were drawn under four groups A-D. Group A has defending champions South Africa, Bangladesh, Scotland and Namibia. Group B includes two-time winner Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Canada. Group C comprises 1998 champions England along with the West Indies, Zimbabwe and Fiji. India were drawn in Group D alongside Australia, New Zealand and Nepal.
The Indian U-19 team has won three Under-19 World Cups. In 2000, under the captaincy of Mohammad Kaif, in 2008 under Virat Kohli's leadership and in 2012 under the captaincy of Unmukt Chand.
Indian Under-19 squad to play in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2016 was announced by the selection committee in Mumbai. Jharkhand's wicket keeper-batsman Ishan Kishan, will lead India's 15-man squad. Another left-hand wicket keeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, was named vice-captain. The squad includes six batsmen apart from Kishan and Pant. Among the seven bowlers, India named four pacers and three spinners.
On 5 Jan 2016, Australia pulled out of the Under-19 World Cup due to security concerns. ICC invited Ireland to replace Australia in the tournament.
India begin their campaign against Ireland on 28 January at the Sher-e-Bangla national stadium in Mirpur. Players in the current squad like Sarfraz Khan, Ricky Bhui and Avesh Khan have played in the previous World Cup and also at the first-class level. U-19 coach Dravid said that it was always helpful to have people with certain amount of first-class experience.
The Indian Under-19 cricket team was all set for the upcoming World Cup in Bangladesh. Addressing the media ahead of their departure, India U-19 coach Rahul Dravid urged his players to take this as an opportunity to learn and grow as cricketers. Dravid said that his biggest challenge was to select the best 15 out of the 'incredibly talented' pool of players.
India (267 for 9) entered the Under-19 World Cup Finals with a convincing 97-run win against Sri Lanka, with India's Anmolpreet Singh declared as man-of-the-match. On 11 February 2016, West Indies (230 for 7) beat Bangladesh (226) by three wickets, to enter the finals against India. Hosts Bangladesh scored a three-wicket over Sri Lanka (214) to claim the third place in the tournament.
