Rahul Dravid Prithvi Shaw India U-19 team
Rahul Dravid. Image Courtesy: Getty Images

India defeated Australia by eight wickets in the final of the 2018 Under-19 World Cup, courtesy a match-winning hundred by Delhi-lad, Manjot Kalra at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, Tauranga.

Indian batsmen led by Kalra chased down the 217 runs target with 67 balls to spare. This margin of victory was also the biggest margin of win ever in the finals of the under-19 World Cup.

ICC U-19 World Cup 2018: I am Really Proud of the Boys - Rahul Dravid
Image Courtesy: Twitter

With this World Cup title, India now has four Under-19 World Cup titles to their name. India’s victory was set up by the bowlers who had restricted the Australians to a low score of 216 in the 50 overs.

Ishan Porel, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shiva Singh and Anukul Roy picked up two wickets each as for Australia, Jonathan Merlo was the top scorer with 76 runs, as they bowled out in 47.2 overs.

ICC U-19 World Cup 2018: I am Really Proud of the Boys - Rahul Dravid
India restricted Australia for a low score of 216 (Photo by Kai Schwoerer-IDI/IDI via Getty Images)

India had a solid start to begin with Prithvi Shaw and Kalra involved in a 71 runs opening wicket partnership. Gill also played a handy inning of 31 runs before Harvik Desai and Manjot finished it for the Indian team.

ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup
India U-19 coach Rahul Dravid has banned the use of Mobile Phones until the finals of the U-19 World Cup. Image Courtesy: Getty Images

A lot of the credit for this win should be given to India’s head coach Rahul Dravid who said he was immensely proud of the boys to have given it all over the course of 14 months.

“I am really proud of the boys, proud of the effort that they have put in and proud of the support staff as well. (Smiles and pauses as the Indian team celebrates right behind him to be on camera). I think the effort we have put in over the last 14 months have been sensational. They really deserved this, couldn’t be really happier and proud for this bunch of boys. It’s really nice for them, and hopefully it’s a memory they’ll cherish for a long time, and hopefully, it’s not a memory that defines them, and they will have a lot more bigger and better memories as they go on ahead in their careers.” 

ICC U-19 World Cup 2018: I am Really Proud of the Boys - Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid with Prithvi Shaw (Photo by Kai Schwoerer-IDI/IDI via Getty Images)

“Coaching this team I tend to get a lot of attention, but it is really about the quality of support staff that we have had, there have been seven, eight of us who have been together for the last 14 months, the effort they put in was incredible. I am proud to be a part of their (support staff) team and see it as that. We try and do what’s best for the kids and hopefully they can put in the performances on the field, and they have certainly done that in this tournament.”

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