India’s preparations for the age-group showpiece have been impacted closely by the virus, with hardly any nationwide camps or tournaments within the final two years besides the current Asia Cup.
The four-time champions began the event on the suitable be aware, overcoming a very good South Africa aspect by 45 runs, however quickly ran right into a scenario the place they have been struggling to subject a taking part in XI after a number of gamers have been discovered to have contracted Covid-19 hours earlier than their match in opposition to Eire.
5 members of the squad have been unavailable for his or her second group conflict, in opposition to Eire on January 19 after a Covid outbreak.
Captain Yash Dhull, his deputy Shaik Rasheed, Aaradhya Yadav, Manav Parakh and Siddarth Yadav have been a part of that group and missed each the Eire and Uganda fixtures, forcing the BCCI to fly in reinforcements.
India have been with out many gamers for his or her match with Uganda and needed to name in six reserves to play with the non-infected members of their squad.
However a spirited India received the higher of all of the challenges thrown at them and soundly defeated Eire and Uganda earlier than prevailing over Bangladesh by 5 wickets in a difficult chase of their quarterfinal match on a floor that was not conducive for taking part in strokes.
India at the moment are again to full energy and in one other excellent news, Nishant Sindhu has recovered from COVID-19 and might be out there for choice for the all-important semifinal.
But when the match in opposition to Bangladesh was any indication, India want to enhance their ending with bat.
Nevertheless, earlier than that, regardless of lacking many first XI gamers, India put up big totals in opposition to Eire (307/5) and Uganda (405/), and registered their largest ever victory phrases of runs in opposition to the African staff.
Now up in opposition to a formidable Australian aspect, India will take confidence from the truth that they made the semifinals with wins on the trot regardless of the challenges posed the virus.
That is the fourth time in a row that India might be showing within the last-four stage of the competitors.
India have a powerful batting presence with the likes of Harnoor Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Raj Bawa, who broke Shikhar Dhawan’s report for the very best particular person rating by an Indian batter on the U-19 World Cup together with his 162 not out in opposition to Uganda, shouldering the accountability, in addition to skipper Dhull and Rasheed.
In truth, it was Dhull who set the tone for the staff together with his soild 82 in opposition to South Africa of their event opener.
The bowling division is taken care of by left-arm pacer Ravi Kumar, who wreaked havoc in a five-over spell to go away Bangladesh struggling at 14/3, right-arm seamer Rajvardhan Hangargekar, spinners Vicky Ostwal and Kaushal Tambe, in addition to medium pacer Bawa.
So far as Australia are involved, the two-time champions might be on a excessive after their convincing win over Pakistan within the quarters.
Australia have a celebrity within the making in opener Teague Wyllie.
The 17-year-old has been one of many stars of the World Cup to date, showcasing his spectacular array of pictures and an attacking but managed temperament. And the Western Australian teenager has no scarcity of self-confidence both, making him an all-round bundle with each probability of constructing it within the worldwide sport.
Wyllie was at his fluent greatest in opposition to Pakistan, serving to his aspect get off to a terrific begin as he stroked eight fours in a formidable 97-ball 71 India might be cautious of him.
Tom Whitney (2/31) and William Salzmann (3/37) have been the stand-out performers with the ball in opposition to Pakistan, and there is hardly any apparent weak hyperlink for India to take advantage of.
India had crushed Australia within the warm-up sport.
TEAMS
India (possible XI): Yash Dhull (c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Harnoor Singh, Raj Bawa, Kaushal Tambe, Dinesh Bana, Nishant Sindhu, Vicky Ostwal, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Vasu Vats and Ravi Kumar.
Australia (possible XI): Cooper Connolly (c), Campbell Kellaway, Teague Wyllie, Aidan Cahill, Corey Miller, Jack Sinfield, Tobias Snell, William Salzmann, Jack Nisbet, Lachlan Shaw and Tom Whitney