A world turned upside down, less predictable and more exciting

Conventional wisdom won8217;t be of much help if one tries to assess the favourites for the ICC8217;s junior World Cup. Where the senior g...

Conventional wisdom won8217;t be of much help if one tries to assess the favourites for the ICC8217;s junior World Cup. Where the senior game has a more or less fixed hierarchy, the world of junior cricket is quite topsy-turvy and follows its own pattern.

And that8217;s one reason why India coach Ventakesh Prasad doesn8217;t give much importance to the draw India are grouped with Sri Lanka, Scotland and Namibia. 8216;8216;We are not concerned about the draw since anything can be expected from anyone in such a tournament,8217;8217; he says, hinting about the fickle form of young teams. The Australians might be the only team to have the won this World Cup twice but they aren8217;t as overpowering or consistent as their seniors.

And Bangladesh, to mix animal metaphors, aren8217;t minnows but dark horses for this year8217;s event. That is proof of their focus on solid grassroots development instead of superficial work at the top level.

Indeed, Asian countries have an overwhelming presence in this tournament8217;s history. Two of the last three Youth World Cup have won by teams from the sub-continent8212; India winning in 2000 and Pakistan in 2004. But the surprise package is Nepal, a non-entity at the senior level but a regular at the junior World Cup 8212; the Colombo event will be their fourth. Coached by former Sri Lanka batsman Roy Dias, they have one of the most experienced squads in the tournament, with seven players from 2004.

And they aren8217;t around to merely make up the numbers; their track record includes wins over Pakistan and Bangladesh. And which team has has the most number of players with big league experience? Zimbabwe wins hands down: seven of the current squad have played at the first-class level and three of those have also played international matches. In all this, the West Indian juniors have failed to live up to the standards set by their seniors.

The islands have not produced results even close to what the seniors have achieved in the past. The best performance at this level has been a runners-up spot in 2004.

Curiously, and perhaps a pointer to the future, the West Indies8217; biggest bowling weapon strength at this World Cup will be their spinners. The main wicket-takers on the current warm-up tour of Pakistan are spinners Shamarh Brooks and Rishi Bachan.

THIS HAPPENS ONLY AT U-19

Story continues below this ad

8226; Australia failed to reach the Super League in the last edition and just some months back lost an away series 1-4 to India

8226; Bangladesh were the Plate winners in 2004 and last year demolished England 11-0 in a home series

8226; South Africa were fifth behind India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan at the Afro-Asian one-day tournament at Vizag last year

8226; India8217;s jrs have been consistent in this world cup: They wonin 2000 and reached the semis in 2002 and 2004

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More