Sourav Ganguly and Gautam Gambhir couldn’t contain their excitement following India’s remarkable come-from-behind victory to secure a spot in the U19 World Cup final. After a nail-biting two-wicket win against South Africa at Willowmoore Park in Benoni, the former Indian cricketers took to social media to extend their congratulations.
After losing early wickets in their chase of 245 runs, India had a difficult task ahead of them, especially considering how formidable the South African spinners would be. But India was saved from a dire situation of 32 for 4, thanks to a vital 171-run stand for the fifth wicket between captain Uday Saharan and batsman Sachin Dhas. With barely 7 balls remaining, Dhas (96 off 95 balls) and Saharan (81 off 124) led India to win with their different but equally impressive efforts.
Despite facing another setback when three quick wickets fell towards the end of the innings, Saharan remained composed and steered the team across the finish line. Ganguly praised the young Indian team for their outstanding performance, acknowledging the talent within the South African side as well. Meanwhile, Gambhir lauded India’s achievement of reaching their fifth consecutive U19 World Cup final.
Reflecting on the intense semi final encounter, Saharan emphasised the importance of experiencing close matches, stating that it would benefit the team in the final. India, who maintained an unbeaten record throughout the league stage and Super Six, now await the winner of the Australia-Pakistan clash in the ultimate showdown.
Speaking to the host broadcaster, Saharan expressed his delight at reaching the final and credited the team’s resilience and the supportive environment provided by the coaching staff. He was later awarded the man of the match for his stellar performance.
