The personal sacrifices that helped India lift it's 5th U-19 World Cup!

Last night, a 17 year old Dinesh Bana, India's wicket keeper hit a "Dhoniesque" six to seal the U-19 World Cup for India ~ the team's 5th trophy in the 8 finals it has ever played in.

Across the last two games, the young lad has scored 33* off 9 balls and to be able to that one needs oodles of confidence and self belief, something that Bana has plenty off.

He wasn't the first choice keeper for this squad. During one of the Challenger Trophy games, when his team mate, Nishant Sindhu, with whom he shared the match-winning partnership yesterday, told him that "aaj selectors aane waale hain", (today the selectors are here to watch) Bana replied "Tu bas six count karna aaj mere". (You just keep counting the sixes I hit today)

Bana smashed a 98-ball 170, which included 10 fours and 14 sixes and forced his way into the team.

That's the sort of mindset this unit played with and remained unbeaten throughout the tournament. And this, despite the fact that none of these guys were able to gain much experience from domestic cricket in India over the last 2 years.

Raj Bawa, who was the man of the match in the finals for his 5-wicket haul and a crucial 35 run contribution in the 67 run partnership with Sindhu, ended the tournament with 252 runs at an average of 63 and bagged 9 wickets at an average of 16.66.

His cricketing journey was inspired by another all-rounder southpaw, Yuvraj Singh, who himself had made a huge impact in the maiden U-19 World Cup that India had won in 2000.

Bawa's father, Sukhwinder Singh Bawa, was a renowned coach himself and had trained Yuvraj in his early days and Raj went onto hone his skills under his father's tutelage.

You can read the rest of the story here , where I talk about the sporting heritage in Raj Bawa & Angkrish Raghuvansh's families and the personal sacrifices they have made along with players like Vicky Ostwal and Yash Dhull.