Opinion Express View on India’s U-19 defeat: Don’t freeze

For Steve Waugh’s Invincibles, India was the final frontier, the lone unconquered shore in their era of absolute supremacy. In 54 years, the indefatigable Australians have managed to win just one Test series in India. In ICC tournaments, though, Australia have been India’s final frontier. The defeat of the U-19 cricketers in Benoni, South Africa, was the third instance in seven months that Australia defeated India in the final of a global tournament. If the loss in the World Test Championship at the Oval is a distant, fading memory, the stumble in the 50-over World Cup final in front of shocked spectators in Ahmedabad is like an unhealed wound.

The fatalists would call it a jinx. Others might term it as a mental block. Some would say it is DNA. But when it comes to the big games and moments, Australia are simply a few miles ahead of their opponents in handling pressure and negotiating tough times. India, on the other hand, tend to freeze in those moments when icy veins and cool heads are required. It’s easier said than done because international sport is ultra competitive and even the slightest mistakes could be ruthlessly punished. Australia excel at that, borne out by the collection of 14 ICC trophies in their gallery. Even if they might not possess a glittering array of talent as they once used to, they inevitably rise above themselves in the knockout.

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Nonetheless, a defeat in the final offers valuable lessons for the teenaged cricketers, most of whom would soon step into the intense world of senior cricket. The loss would sting, but it would also make them realise that nothing comes easy in professional sport. Despite the stumble in the final, there is considerable talent in the batch of 2024, a foundation for the coaches to work with, a potential to be harnessed into world-class packages. The defeat should only inspire them to breach India’s final frontier in ICC tournaments, that is, Australia.