Team India have been the most successful side in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup history, having won the title five times. With another edition of the marquee tournament set to get underway from January 15 in Zimbabwe and Namibia, the fans will hope that another title comes our way, this time under the leadership of batting all-rounder Ayush Mhatre.
Over the years, several youth skippers have guided India to the title triumph. It all began in 2000 with Mohammad Kaif guiding his side to their maiden Under-19 Cricket World Cup triumph. The momentum just followed on as Virat Kohli guided the Indian side to victory in 2008. Unmukt Chand in 2012, Prithvi Shaw in 2018 and Yash Dhull in 2022 repeated that feat. Here in this article, we have listed the names of all India captains to have won the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
India captains to win ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup
Mohammad Kaif (ICC U19 CWC 2000)
Former India cricketer-turned commentator, Mohammad Kaif, was the first Indian cricketer to lead the India U-19 team to ICC glory. Under his captaincy, the India Under-19 team lifted their maiden title, beating Sri Lanka by six wickets in Colombo in 2000.
Virat Kohli (ICC U19 CWC 2008)
Eight years after Mohammad Kaif’s U19 victory, it was under Virat Kohli’s leadership that the side lifted the title. In the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2008, Virat Kohli-led India beat South Africa by 12 runs by the DLS method in Puchong to get their hands on the title for the second time.
Unmukt Chand (ICC U19 CWC 2012)
Although the Indian team could not defend the title in 2010, in 2012, the Unmukt Chand-led side defeated Australia to claim the ICC Under-19 CWC 2012. The skipper led from the front, scoring an unbeaten 111 during India’s title win in Townsville.
Prithvi Shaw (ICC U19 CWC 2018)
After securing the title three times previously, it was under Prithvi Shaw’s captaincy in 2018 edition that India lifted their fourth Under-19 World Cup title. Riding on Manjot Kalra’s century, the India U19 team chased the 217-run target and registered a thumping eight-wicket victory against Australia at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
Yash Dhull (ICC U19 CWC 2022)
The most recent Under-19 victory came in the 2022 edition of the tournament. It was under Yash Dhull’s captaincy that the Men in Blue defeated England by four wickets in the final to claim their record-breaking fifth title. With this, India is also the most successful side in the Under-19 World Cup history.
List of Indian captains to win ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup
| Player | ICC Under-19 CWC Edition |
|---|---|
| Mohammad Kaif | 2000 |
| Virat Kohli | 2008 |
| Unmukt Chand | 2012 |
| Prithvi Shaw | 2018 |
| Yash Dhull | 2022 |
FAQs
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif was the first Indian captain to win the Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
As many as five India U-19 players have lifted the Under-19 CWC over the years.
India last won the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2022 under Yash Dhull’s captaincy.
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