Star India batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi dedicated his Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards to the support staff behind the team, saying that the way the group took care of the bunch of youngsters in foreign conditions played a big role in India’s sixth title triumph at the U19 World Cup.
Sooryavanshi’s 80-ball 175, which comprised a record 15 sixes and as many boundaries, propelled India to an imposing 411/9 after England opted to bowl first.
Reeling from Sooryavanshi’s brutal onslaught, England were bowled out for 311 in the 41st over while chasing an improbable target of 412 against a well-rounded Indian bowling attack.
Sooryavanshi finished with 439 runs in seven matches, at a stunning average of 62.71.
“All the preparation, the tireless
effort of the support staff and every match we played, from the Asia Cup to the series leading up to this, have led us to this moment. I want to dedicate this award to the entire support staff,” Sooryavanshi said while speaking at the post-match presentation.
Sooryavanshi spoke in his mother tongue, Hindi, while Aaron George translated for him.
“The main aim wasn’t to put ourselves under too much pressure. We focused on believing in ourselves and trusting the process we have followed from the very start of the tournament,” Sooryavanshi said.
“The preparation started with the Asia Cup and even before that. Over the past eight to nine months, the support staff and the team have worked together and that groundwork has played a huge role in bringing us to where we are today,” Sooryavanshi added.
England batter Caleb Falconer was the standout performer with a scintillating 115 off 67 deliveries, leaving his mark on the biggest stage while helping narrow the margin of loss.
“Yeah, I think we were scratching our heads a bit. It was tough and on a good pitch, once he (Sooryavanshi) got going, we really struggled to know what to do,” England skipper Thomas Rew said.
