Recognize talented youth early

Even as the Indian senior team was hurtling to defeat at the hands of Pakistan at Perth, came the uplifting news from Colombo that the Indian junior squad had won the Under-19 World Cup with an emphatic victory over the hosts in the final. Four years ago, India won the Under-15 World Cup defeating Pakistan in the final. The immediate message that can one derive from all this is that while the present scenario is bleak, the future of Indian cricket promises to be very bright.

Winning an international tournament at any level is never an easy task. In the Under-19 World Cup, 16 nations including all the Test playing nations took part. So it is fair to assume that the field was very strong. But the Indian team displayed steely nerves, fine temparament and outstanding batting, bowling and fielding skills to emerge triumphant. The team did not even have a proper training camp. They were together for just a couple of days after the final selection was made at Chennai. But they had the benefit of much match practice for all of them had played in the Cooch Behar Trophy in Jameshedpur and then in the CK Nayudu Trophy inter-zonal tournament in Chennai. This sharpened their skills more than any camp would have done.

Once in Sri Lanka however it was obvious that the boys knit well together as a team. Under the benign guidance of their coach Roger Binny, they rose to the occasion. The overall performance was heartwarming and indeed there was a professional touch about it. They adopted the right positive attitude and this, coupled with their all round skills paid rich dividends. They won every match they played, bar one in which they were thwarted by the wet weather after being well placed to win.

The concept of the India A or junior side is excellent. Budding young cricketers can make it up the ladder climbing through the ranks and there is a systematic approach about this that is bound to yield results. Many fine players have proved themselves at the senior level after coming up with sterling performances in the junior ranks. Even in the present team, players like Ravneet Ricky, RS Sodhi and Yuvraj Singh are all youngsters who should be encouraged sooner rather than later. One reason why Pakistan is doing so well is because they blood youngsters early. There are a number of teenagers in the side who have done the country proud in the international arena. It is time the authorities in India shed their conservative approach in this regard and blood talent early. That would be the best way to recognize the tremendous feat of the Indian youth team in Sri Lanka.