India U-19 skipper Uday Saharan brings out Israel Adesanya-inspired celebration after gritty ton

The U-19 teams of India and Nepal clashed in the 33rd match of the ongoing ICC Under 19 World Cup 2024 at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Friday, February 2.

In a standout moment of the match, the young Indian batter and captain, Uday Saharan, celebrated with a unique style after reaching his century. ICC shared a video on social media where another Indian player asked him about the celebration, saying,

"Uday, today you had a great celebration, and everyone wants to know its meaning." Uday replied, "It's a celebration inspired by a UFC fighter, Israel Adesanya. He did it after winning the championship, so I did it after seeing him."

Who is Israel Adesanya?

Israel Adesanya, born on 22 July 1989 in New Zealand, is a skilled mixed martial artist, kickboxer, and former boxer. He currently competes in the UFC Middleweight division, where he has twice held the title. In kickboxing, he has also vied for the Glory Middleweight Championship title. As of 23 January 2024, Adesanya ranks second in the UFC middleweight standings and tenth in the men's pound-for-pound rankings. His talent and achievements make him a notable figure in the world of combat sports.

Coming to the match, the Indian team won the toss and chose to bat first. While batting, the Indian team faced a struggle, reaching a score of 62 for three in the 14th over. That's when Saharan, the captain, and Sachin Dhas came in and forged an incredible partnership, adding 215 runs to help India reach a formidable total of 297 for five. Sharan scored 100 of 107 balls while Dhas scored 116 of 101 balls.

In the chase, Nepal were dismissed for just 165, and India secured victory by 132 runs. Saumy Pandey was the standout bowler for India, taking four wickets, while Arshin Kulkarni also contributed with two wickets to his name.