India U-19 head coach Paras Mhambrey reiterated how big the gap between youth cricket and the first-class level is saying that remains the biggest challenge for players who lit up the junior World Cup in South Africa despite an ever-progressive system. 

The same has been acknowledged and also time and time again conveyed to the players by NCA director Rahul Dravid and the group of coaches under him as the real journey for the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kartik Tyagi starts from here. 

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"It's tough for the boys but they have always been spoken to about the importance of this tournament in a larger picture," Mhambrey, the former India and Mumbai pacer, told TOI at the end of the tournament with his team going down to Bangladesh in the final this Sunday (February 9). 

"The main challenge is the transition of these boys. The eventual goal is to strengthen Indian cricket and have resources ready for the senior team. We don't want to lose any of these boys," Mhambrey said. 

"The BCCI and the NCA has created a system that every player is being tracked and monitored. U-19 boys are told that the tough days start now when they try to break into first-class sides and India 'A' teams. We ensure that the planning for these players are beyond the U-19 World Cup."

The BCCI also bought in the expensive athlete management technology that has been used for the senior centrally-contracted players for this U-19 batch. 

"The strength and conditioning team at NCA has done a great job. We have got an app and GPS system that monitors these players," Mhambrey said. 

"These days, the boys play so much of cricket. Even before this U-19 tournament our S&C team would red flag the players who would exert more while they were with the state sides. There have been instances the players have been called back to the NCA."

Because a lot of these players are already dealing with a lot of money and fame in their life, focus for coaches has also been on moulding them into better individuals. 

"Handling money and fame is certainly an area that has been an area of focus. I am sure Rahul is speaking to concerned people about how the money can be handed to these young boys," Mhambrey said. 

"These boys are very smart and mature. It is important that they have the right people around them. I am sure their parents have a big say."

(Inputs from TOI)