New Delhi, Dec 13 (NationPress) With an impressive 234-run triumph against UAE in their opening match of the Men’s U19 Asia Cup, India has established a strong foundation for their preparations leading up to next year’s World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia.

In their last U19 World Cup appearance, India finished as runners-up to Australia in 2024. This time, under the leadership of Ayush Mhatre, they are determined to go further and secure their remarkable sixth title.

Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer, who has recently guided the current squad in the U19 Challenger Trophy and the India B team during the tri-series with Afghanistan, has expressed confidence in their ability to tackle any challenges and succeed in their journey towards victory.

“They are undoubtedly very talented. With Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi returning after their absence in the challengers and triangular series, the team looks promising,” Jaffer stated.

“I have worked with players like Vihaan Malhotra, who are incredibly skilled and possess immense potential. The BCCI, alongside VVS Laxman and his team, has done an excellent job in keeping these players together for an extended period, allowing them to gain valuable experience through matches in England and Australia.”

“The camaraderie among the players is strong, which is crucial for the upcoming challenges of the Asia Cup and the World Cup—titles that have eluded us for some time now,” Jaffer shared in an exclusive interview with IANS.

However, Jaffer also pointed out that the U19 batches after 2020 have struggled to produce players who can successfully transition into the senior team. “What I’ve observed is that since the 2018 batch, which included Shubman Gill, Arshdeep Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, and Prithvi Shaw, along with the 2020 batch featuring Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Dhruv Jurel, and Ravi Bishnoi, we haven’t seen any U19 players making it to the senior squad.”

“This transition has not occurred for the last one or two batches, which is a crucial aspect that needs to be addressed. Players like Vaibhav, Ayush Mhatre, Abhigyan Kundu, Vihaan Malhotra, and Harvansh Singh are exceptionally talented, and we aspire for them to progress to the next level. This represents a significant challenge—ensuring that our U19 players can perform at the highest level, an achievement that has been lacking in recent batches,” he explained.

“My concern is that it’s vital for these U19 players to effectively transition to international cricket as well as to the IPL, which has become a pivotal tournament. How easily they can break into their state teams is also in question. I believe this transition is essential to showcase emerging talent that can challenge senior players, which is a major task, in my view,” Jaffer elaborated.

Having won the Ranji Trophy multiple times with both Mumbai and Vidarbha, Jaffer is among the few coaches who have worked with both U19 and senior teams. He remarked on the differences in coaching these two levels, stating, “At this age group, players are still works in progress. They often play with the same set of players, moving through U14, U16, and U19, which can create a comfort zone. However, stepping out of the U19 category into men’s cricket is a significant leap, as there are no age groups, and the challenges become more substantial.”

“This environment can lead to complacency, but when they compete against international teams, it pushes them to challenge themselves,” he added.

Despite India's historical dominance at the U19 level, recent results have been less fruitful. India last won the U19 Asia Cup in 2021, finishing as runners-up to two-time champions Bangladesh last year. “I truly believe that the Indian team is significantly ahead of other international teams. We are exceptionally talented, and the challenge lies in achieving the desired results,” Jaffer concluded.

Adding to India's hopes of clinching the World Cup is Mhatre, who recently performed well for Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, despite a less notable outing at The ICC Academy in Dubai on Friday. Meanwhile, Suryavanshi shone with a remarkable 171 runs against UAE and comes off a series of outstanding performances for Bihar and India A. Jaffer is confident that their experience in senior cricket will greatly enhance the India U19 team.

“It is crucial because Vaibhav has excelled while playing for Bihar, just as Ayush Mhatre has for Mumbai, participating in Ranji Trophy and India A games successfully. However, they must avoid complacency; sometimes, players may take it easy when coming down from a higher level. I trust that will not be the case as they are engaged in numerous matches.”

“With the World Cup approaching, their tasks will become clearer. Playing at the highest level—not just for the Indian team, but also in tournaments like the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, or Vijay Hazare Trophy—can shift their mindset from competitive age-group matches to facing adult opponents. This experience will empower Ayush, Vaibhav, and others who have played in these senior tournaments, ultimately strengthening the Indian team,” he concluded.