India U19 vs England U19 Warm-up Report: Kanishk Chouhan’s Late Cameo and Kundu’s Class Propel India to 295/8
The final dress rehearsal before the marquee event has lived up to the billing. In a high-stakes warm-up encounter ahead of the ICC U19 World Cup, the Indian colts displayed remarkable grit, recovery skills, and firepower to post a daunting total of 295/8 against a formidable England U19 side.
While the scorecard will reflect a comfortable total near the 300-run mark, the journey to that score was anything but smooth. It required a masterful rebuilding act by the middle order and a late-overs blitz from Kanishk Chouhan to bail the team out of a precarious position. For a team looking to iron out flaws before the tournament opener, this innings provided the perfect simulation of pressure, collapse, and resurgence.
Here is a comprehensive analysis of the Indian innings, the standout performers, and what this means for the “Boys in Blue” as they march toward the World Cup.
The Early Jitters: Suryavanshi Falls, Mhatre Fires then Falters
All eyes at the start of play were on India’s dynamic opening duo: the prodigious Vaibhav Suryavanshi and his captain, Ayush Mhatre. Suryavanshi, touted as India’s next superstar and entering the tournament in sweltering form, was expected to set the tone. However, the unpredictability of cricket struck early.
Opting to bat first, India suffered an immediate setback. Suryavanshi, usually the aggressor, was dismissed cheaply for just 1 run. His departure sent a ripple of anxiety through the dugout, exposing the middle order to the new ball much earlier than anticipated.
However, captain Ayush Mhatre took it upon himself to counter-attack. Battling his own demons regarding conversion rates at the U19 level, Mhatre looked in sublime touch against the English pacers. He showcased his intent by smoking four massive sixes, racing to 49. He looked set for a big captain’s knock, one that would silence critics regarding his U19 consistency. But, in a cruel twist of fate, he fell agonisingly short of his half-century, dismissed on 49.
Mhatre’s dismissal triggered a mini-collapse. Along with the departure of Vihaan Malhotra (10) and Vedant Trivedi (14), India found themselves wobbling at 88/4 in the 15th over. The English bowlers had their tails up, and it seemed like India might struggle to cross the 200-run mark.
The Resurrection: Kundu and Ambrish Steady the Ship
Cricket is often won in the middle overs, and today, India proved they possess the depth required to win championships. With the scoreboard reading a precarious 99/4 after 17 overs, and later 121/4 after 21 overs, the onus fell on Abhigyan Kundu and RS Ambrish to arrest the slide.
This phase of play was crucial for India’s World Cup preparations. The management has often relied on the top order, but today, the middle order was forced to stand up and be counted.
Abhigyan Kundu’s Class: Kundu played the role of the anchor to perfection. He absorbed the pressure, rotated the strike, and punished the loose deliveries. His innings was a masterclass in temperament. While he eventually missed out on a well-deserved century, his half-century was the backbone of India’s innings. He ensured that the English bowlers could not run through the batting lineup, frustrating them with his solid defense and calculated aggression.
RS Ambrish’s Support: At the other end, RS Ambrish provided the perfect foil. Scoring a vital 48, Ambrish ensured the partnership kept moving. Their 50-run stand was the turning point of the match, shifting the momentum back in India’s favor. They took the team from a position of vulnerability to one of stability, laying the platform for a late assault.
The Finisher: Kanishk Chouhan’s Late Blitz
Even with the recovery led by Kundu and Ambrish, India needed a final flourish to push the total from “competitive” to “imposing.” Enter Kanishk Chouhan.
Coming in during the death overs, Chouhan wasted no time. With the platform set, he played a gem of a cameo that demoralized the English attack. Scoring an unbeaten 45 runs off just 36 balls, Chouhan displayed a wide array of shots, finding the boundaries with ease.
His innings was instrumental in ensuring India didn’t just stumble across the line but sprinted through the finish tape. His aggression in the final five overs allowed India to finish on 295/8, a psychological advantage going into the second half of the game.
Key Takeaways for Team India
1. Batting Depth is Real The biggest positive for India from this warm-up game is the validation of their batting depth. When the top heavyweights—Suryavanshi and Mhatre—were back in the hut with the score reading 88/4, the team could have folded. Instead, Kundu, Ambrish, and Chouhan proved that India has match-winners all the way down to number 7 and 8.
2. Mhatre’s Mixed Bag Captain Ayush Mhatre will have mixed feelings. On one hand, his 49 off aggressive hitting showed he can dominate international attacks. On the other, his inability to convert the start into a big hundred remains a talking point. With the World Cup starting, he will be desperate to cross that three-figure mark.
3. Resilience Under Pressure The ability to recover from 88/4 to 295/8 shows immense mental fortitude. In tournament play, teams are often tested not when things are going right, but when they go wrong. Today, India passed that test with flying colors.
The Challenge for England
A target of 296 is never easy in U19 cricket, regardless of the pitch conditions. The English batters will have to contend with India’s bowling attack, which has been consistent with the new ball in recent months. The scoreboard pressure will be immense from ball one.
England will need their top order to fire to have any chance of chasing this down. Unlike India, if England loses early wickets, chasing nearly 6 runs an over against disciplined Indian spin and pace could prove to be a bridge too far.
Conclusion
As the sun sets on this warm-up fixture, India will walk back to the dressing room the happier side, regardless of the bowling result. They ticked the most important boxes: their middle order was tested, their lower order contributed, and they posted a winning total after a top-order collapse.
With the World Cup campaign set to begin, this performance by Kanishk Chouhan, Abhigyan Kundu, and the rest of the middle order serves as a warning to rival nations: India is not a one-man or two-man army. They are a cohesive unit capable of fighting back from any situation. The “Boys in Blue” look ready for the global stage.
