Pujara, Rahane extend wishes to India ahead of their U19 World Cup final clash against Bangladesh

India will look to defend their crown in the Under-19 World Cup on Sunday when they take on Bangladesh colts in the title clash at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom, South Africa. This is India’s seventh final in the U-19 World Cup while for Bangladesh, it is the first time.

While the Boys in Blue have won all their games in this tournament so far — including those against Australia in the quarter-final and Pakistan in the semi-final, Bangladesh have won all but one as their group clash against Pakistan was washed out.

Senior India cricketers including Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Vijay Shankar and Wriddhiman Saha wished the U19 team led by Priyam Garg on the eve of the final. Their wishes featured in a video that was posted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The caption of the video read: “Wishes galore all the way from New Zealand for the U19 team ahead of the #U19CWC final. #TeamIndia”. While Pujara, Rahane and Saha are in New Zealand for the two-Test series starting later this month, Shankar is also in New Zealand as a member of the India ‘A’ squad.

Wishes galore all the way from New Zealand for the U19 team ahead of the #U19CWC final. 🇮🇳🔥💪 #TeamIndia @cheteshwar1 @vijayshankar260 @Wriddhipops @ajinkyarahane88 pic.twitter.com/oCucTeOBzE

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 7, 2020

Kohli, Pujara had been members of U19 World Cup squads

A number of cricketers of the current national side have been members of the U19 World Cup. Captain Virat Kohli led India to win the U19 World Cup in 2008 by beating the Proteas in the final while Pujara finished as the highest run-getter (349) in the 2006 edition the final of which India lost to Pakistan.

This will be the third time that the U19 World Cup final will be an all-Asia affair. In 2000, India beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in the final while in 2006, Pakistan beat India by 38 runs. Both the games were played in Colombo.

Bangladesh, who finished as their group toppers, humbled hosts South Africa by 104 runs in the quarter-final and beat New Zealand by 6 wickets in the semi-final to storm into their maiden final. The match starts at 1.30 pm IST.

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