Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria hailed India's latest Under-19 World Cup triumph as a sign of the country's ever-deepening talent pool, singling out Vaibhav Suryavanshi as a future senior international after his record-breaking performance in the final.
India clinched their sixth U19 World Cup title with a commanding 100-run win over England, powered by a sensational innings from Suryavanshi. The young batter smashed 175 off just 80 balls, lacing his knock with 15 fours and 15 sixes, as India piled up a mammoth 411 for 9 after opting to bat first.
Reacting to the victory, Kaneria said India had unearthed another potential superstar. "Many congratulations to the Indian Under-19 team. Vaibhav Suryavanshi is amazing. He should be brought into
the team very soon. He is playing brilliantly at such a young age. India is going to get a new star. Given the kind of form he is in, he will soon be wearing the Indian team jersey," Kaneria said while speaking to ANI.
Kaneria also underlined the depth in India's U19 setup, praising captain Ayush Mhatre and middle-order batter Abhigyan Kundu for their roles in the campaign. Mhatre scored a composed 53 in the final, while Kundu added a brisk 40, helping India build an unassailable total.
"No doubt, India has great talent. Mhatre plays very well, and I really liked Abhigyan Kundu. He may be short in height, but what a player he is. He expresses himself with the bat and hits big sixes," Kaneria said. He added a note of caution, however, pointing out that breaking into the senior Indian team requires sustained excellence due to fierce competition. "The boys will have to work very hard because competition in India is intense. To get into the team, you have to keep performing. "
England's chase showed early promise, with Ben Dawkins (66) and Thomas Rew (31) steadying the innings before a collapse derailed their pursuit. Caleb Falconer's valiant 115 kept hopes alive briefly, but England were eventually bowled out for 311.
Looking ahead, Kaneria suggested that India's aggressive T20 evolution could soon open doors for the next generation. "The way India are playing T20 cricket is next level. If in the future Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Suryavanshi open together, what will happen to the bowlers?" he said. "It's not far away-but consistency will be key. "
