Former India opener Aakash Chopra has picked a World XI of U19 names who have left a mark at the highest level. This comes as the India U19 team made it into the finals of the ongoing ICC U19 World Cup 2022 in the West Indies.
The Indian team has also enjoyed a wide pool of talent with bright cricketers like Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and Prithvi Shaw breaking into the senior side.
In a YouTube video posted on his channel, Aakash Chopra started by picking current Pakistan captain Babar Azam. He also picked Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, and Kane Williamson, while sharing a personal story about India’s 2008 U19 World Cup-winning captain.
He said: "Babar Azam, you saw him playing drives in the under-19 World Cup, he was looking good. He comes from a cricketing family and it was the first time we got to see his potential, although you don't know how much that potential will be realized.”
After him, Virat Kohli. That's a personal story because when he was selected for India under-19, he was already a part of the Ranji Trophy team and I have seen him closely. The qualities were there, it seemed the boy will do well but I will be honest, I didn't feel he will do this well.
Steve Smith, if you see his photo as a kid, you will say a leg-spinner had come who could bat a little but he will become Steve unstoppable Smith. Kane consistent Williamson - it was the same World Cup where Virat Kohli was there against him. In fact, Kohli dismissed Williamson.”
After these three extremely amazing batters, Chopra picked three players in Dinesh Chandimal as the wicketkeeper, Eoin Morgan and Shimron Hetmyer. Morgan, then playing for Ireland, finished the 2006 event as the second-highest run-scorer of the event with 338 runs.
Chopra said: "After that, Dinesh Chandimal. I will keep him in the team as a wicket-keeper. Eoin Morgan, World Cup-winning captain. He used to play for Ireland at that time, now he is England's captain. Shimron Hetmyer - we had seen his ability to hit sixes in under-19 cricket."
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Chopra further revealed his bowling unit which featured the likes of Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Chris Woakes, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Kagiso Rabada. Mehidy had led Bangladesh in the 2016 U19 World Cup.
"Mehidy Hasan Miraz - one of my favorite players, his performance has been very good. Off-spin, batting - he is brilliant. Then Chris Woakes, also made the journey from the under-19 World Cup to the England side. Then Shaheen Afridi and Kagiso Rabada. These are two other big names whom you see and say - Well done yaar, these boys have done very well," Chopra further said.
Aakash Chopra’s all-time World XI of U19 players:
Babar Azam, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, Dinesh Chandimal (WK), Eoin Morgan, Shimron Hetmyer, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Chris Woakes, Shaheen Afridi, Kagiso Rabada
