Future Stars Who Stood Out During U-19 World Cup 2024, Ft. Uday Saharan
Australia's Beardman after Saharan's scalp (AP)
As the ICC U-19 World Cup 2024 concluded on Sunday (February 11) with a comprehensive victory for the Australians above their arch-rivals India, we recall terrific performers of the youth tournament, which witnessed multiple exceptional rising young talents marking their presence and promise at the global stage.
Across 16 teams, few raw gems managed to reinforce their prowess and capabilities and climbed up the runs chart and wicket-taking lists of the biannual ICC event. Today, we at 'OneCricket' enlist four such players, who stood out at the junior World Cup in South Africa.
U-19 World Cup 2024 Stars Who Stood Out
Uday Saharan
Saharan, the Indian captain, not only showcased his batting abilities but also laid bare his impressive temperament in leading his troops from the front towards the summit clash in Benoni. The stoic right-hand batter emerged as the top run-getter of the competition with his 397 runs in seven innings, including three fifties and a solitary ton.
Kwena Maphaka
Of all the sensational talents out there, South African U-19 speedster Kwena Maphaka looked as if he was destined to play international cricket in the near future.
Besides his ability to generate pace and hostility at the batter, the left-arm pacer can also vary his speeds and lengths at will, a rare quality at the youth level. He finished as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 21 wickets, including a best of 6/21 versus Sri Lanka.
Snehith Reddy
New Zealand's Indian origin batter Snehith Reddy finished off the campaign with the highest individual score recorded in this edition of the U-19 World Cup. Reddy smashed a magnificent 147 off 125 deliveries in a group stage clash with associate rivals Nepal, with his blistering knock featuring 11 fours and 6 maximums. Reddy helped Kiwis post a daunting score of 302 and win the game by 64 runs.
Taz Ali
The player with the best individual figures in the tournament was England's wristspinner Taz Ali, whose incisive mix of googlies with the conventional leg-spinner accounted for seven Zimbabwean batters for just 29 runs during a Super Six encounter in Potchefstroom. The 17-year-old, who earned the 'Player of the Match' following his team's heavy win, has been earmarked as a prodigy and potential England international spinner in white-ball cricket.