ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup 2020, Final, India v Bangladesh: Preview, likely XI, prediction

It’s India third consecutive appearance in the final of the ICC U19 World Cups. It’s Bangladesh’s first every appearance in the final of any ICC tournament. Those stats in mind, the clash at Potchefstroom on Sunday, 9 February, seems to have an obvious winner. But it isn’t as straightforward as all that.

For starters, this Bangladesh team have been superb. Not many teams have put them under the pump, and in the patches of play in which they have been under pressure, they have found different heroes to get them through. In the semi-final against New Zealand, after losing two early wickets, that hero was Mahmudul Hasan Joy.  

Joy scored a fine century at No.3 – a mature innings, in which he absorbed the pressure and sprung it back on New Zealand when it hurt them most. He’s played List A cricket before, and is one of many in the side either to have played first-class or List A cricket. For an Under 19 side, Bangladesh are quite experienced, and in their preparations, they have left no stone unturned. This is their moment of reckoning.

They face an old foe. India are the most dominant force in the sport, at every level these days, and Bangladesh, as good as they are, will be up against it. India have pedigree and experience, know how to handle the Bangladesh spinners – which was a crucial strength in their handling of non-sub-continent opposition – and have the confidence of serial winners that will only help them to more trophies.

The only way Bangladesh can come out on top on Sunday is if they turn up at full strength and intent, and India doesn’t.

Head to head

India and Bangladesh have clashed 22 times at this level. Bangladesh have won only thrice – in 2002, 2017 and 2019. India have, meanwhile, won 18 clashes, including their last encounters. Bangladesh will hope to buck that trend.

Key players

Kartik Tyagi (India): All eyes are on Yashasvi Jaiswal at the moment, but India have unearthed a potential gem in Kartik Tyagi. The pacemen bowled with verve against Pakistan, and indeed the whole tournament, and if he can take early wickets against Bangladesh, India can be confident.

Mahmudul Hasan Joy (Bangladesh): Bangladesh’s glue in the top-order, Joy will be key to countering anything India throw at them. He showed incredible skill to absorb pressure and counter-attack against New Zealand, and those skills will be put to the test in the final.

Likely XIs

India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Divyansh Saxena, Tilak Varma, Priyam Garg (c), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Siddhesh Veer, Atharva Ankolekar, Ravi Bishnoi, Sushant Mishra, Kartik Tyagi, Akash Singh

Bangladesh: Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanzid Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Towhid Hridoy, Shahadat Hossain, Akbar Ali (c), Shamim Hossain, Rakibul Hasan, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Hasan Murad

Prediction

If rain relents and the match takes place, expect India to win.