India duly wrapped up the Under-19 series against Australia 4-1 with a typically hard-fought win here today. Bowled out for a meagre 196, the bowlers responded — especially Pragyan Ojha and Piyush Chawla — and bundled out the visitors for a paltry 165.The way the home team threw themselves on the turf, the commitment they showed and their businesslike, upbeat attitude was a marked contrast to how their seniors have played of late.Australian coach Brian McFarden paid tribute to the series and to the strength of the opposition. ‘‘We’ve learnt a lot from this tour. We realise that the Indians are superior to us but it’s a great experience for our boys, who’ve been coming out of junior ranks to play a bunch for whom cricket means a lot more.’’The celebrations — which echoed through the regrettably empty stands at Ferozeshah Kotla — showed just how much the win meant to the Indian squad. Indeed so, because it comes after numerous team meetings, net sessions, discussions, analysis, fitness regimes. This preparatory series for next year’s World Cup adds a definite meaning to every member of the team, regardless of his performance.There’ve been no big scores from the batsmen and no five-wicket hauls by the bowlers through this entire series; instead, it’s been a team effort. The famous huddle that they enacted was a salute less to the senior team and more to their own genuine bonding.This is the best of the lot India has to offer, maybe a couple of additions to it will make them look at full strength, but to end on a positive note it’s refreshing to see 11 players combining and putting up a joint effort.Cricket, as they say, is a team game. And the colts have shown just that.Brief scoresIndia Under 19: 196 all out in 45.4 overs (S. Anirudh 29, Rohit Sharma 23, Ravi Kant Shukla 25, Ali Murtaza 23; Moises Henriques 3/42, Jackson Bird 2/39) beat Australia Under-19 165 all out in 38.1 overs (D. Warner 73 not out, Tom Cooper 45, Piyush Chawla 3/31, Pragyan Ojha 3/25)
