In the first semi-final of the Under-19 World Cup 2024, India’s U-19 team defeated South Africa by two wickets to go to their fifth straight U-19 World Cup final.
The “Boys in Blue” didn’t have an easy trip to the summit battle, though, as they were left reeling at 32/4 while pursuing a target of 245. Uday Saharan (81 off 124) and Sachin Dhas (96 off 95), sensing problems for their team, engaged in a huge 171-run partnership off 187 balls to help them win by two wickets.
Notably, Saharan’s game-winning knock earned him Player of the Match honors as well. The 19-year-old is also the tournament’s top run scorer, with 389 runs from six innings at an average of 64.83, including three fifty-score runs.
Uday Saharan was born in the Rajasthani district of Shri Ganganagar on September 8, 2004. When he was twelve years old, he started playing cricket seriously and moved to Punjab to begin his professional career. The captain of India’s U-19 team has represented Punjab at the U-14, U-16, and U-19 levels throughout the past five years.
In addition to being a BCCI Level 1 accredited coach, his father Sanjeev practices Ayurveda medicine. According to his father, who spoke with Sports Star, Uday travels two hours from Shri Ganganagar to Bathinda during games. He is presently enrolled in Bathinda University’s second year of B.Com.
Against Nepal, Uday Sharan scored an incredible century.
Uday Saharan has set an exemplary example for the Under-19 World Cup 2024, as India has won five straight games and is undefeated thus far in the competition. The five-time winners won Group 1 by defeating South Africa by two wickets after defeating Bangladesh, Ireland, New Zealand, and Nepal.
Prior to making the game-winning 81 in the semifinal, Uday used nine fours to register an incredible century (107 vs. Nepal) in the previous league game. The captain of India will be motivated to win the sixth U-19 championship for his country by scoring a high total in the final. In the final, which takes place at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Sunday, February 11, India will play Australia.