Request everyone not to create hype around the boys: Kaif
Planning during the U-19 World Cup and the temperament of players stood out in the triumph in the Caribbean, but the juniors should stay grounded, says Mohd Kaif, skipper of India’s first junior triumph in 2000.
India’s dominance in the ICC Under-19 World Cup began in 2000 when Mohammad Kaif led the side to their maiden title. Starting with that Colombo win over hosts Sri Lanka, India have reached eight of 12 finals, winning the fifth in the West Indies on Saturday night. The batter from Prayagraj himself churned out consistent performances, going on to play for India and becoming a pioneer for his sharp fielding.
The junior sides have kept the flag flying since with Virat Kohli (2008), Unmukt Chand (2012), Prithvi Shaw (2018), and now Yash Dhull, leading India to triumphs.
More than two decades on from that first win, Kaif still gets emotional as he speaks about India’s latest U-19 World Cup triumph, with a four-wicket win over England in the final in Antigua.
Excerpts:
How do you feel about this win?
It’s quite an emotional win. It reminded me of the 2000 World Cup in Sri Lanka. We all felt proud when the Indian tricolour went up at the prize distribution ceremony. I felt as if I was there on Saturday night when the celebrations began. The enthusiasm was great; I didn’t miss a single ball in the final. In our days, things were different. It was red-ball cricket in whites. Now, there is coloured clothing and two white balls in one match.
What was the most attractive aspect of this win?
The boys were amazing, showed no sign of any pressure and planned the game ball-by-ball. The juniors didn’t get enough exposure before the event due to Covid-19. Their planning was hit by some Covid cases in the West Indies too. But they kept their nerve and never succumbed to pressure throughout the tournament. The boys showed great maturity. I was surprised to see the youngsters have such control on emotions while chasing a challenging target on such a surface.
What was so special?
Everyone in the team knew his job. The win was the result of a well-thought plan. First, bowlers like Raj Bawa (5/31) and Ravi Kumar (4/34) set up the match for India. Later, Shaik Rasheed (50), Nishant Sindhu (50) and Raj Bawa (35*) took the side home with the bat. Undoubtedly, India played too many dot balls. But the batters kept their cool to reach the target. Yash Dhull did great captaincy. I really admire his leadership qualities. Indians didn’t lose a single match through the tournament. The win is because of a well-structured junior programme run by BCCI.
What does the future hold for these boys?
The future of the boys is bright, but they need to stay grounded. It’s a great beginning for them. They have set the first milestone of their careers and now they need to build the future around this. In the near future, they will have IPL, and thereafter, domestic matches too. With this win, they have got a base for their cricket life. I would request everyone not to create so much hype around the boys. Let them enjoy their cricket.
In each batch a few go on to play for India, some don’t. What makes the difference after reaching this level?
There’s not much difference as such. Some players use the confidence they got by winning (the U-19 World Cup) to their advantage. They have built the platform, now they want to climb higher. Some probably get confused a little; in some cases, from the state you are playing, you don’t get the chances at the right time, don’t get proper guidance. Some players might have to wait for the Ranji turn. When I played, I was lucky I was already playing Ranji and had a good start, others took a while. A player goes through such journeys. It’s important to not get frustrated or impatient. Waiting for your turn is not a bad thing. Once you go through, you should be able to grab the opportunity. The first three-four years of first-class cricket that you play after U-19 is very important. Play in different conditions, situations, the game of third innings, fourth innings, to play fast, slow, play for a draw. All these will help them a lot.
