IND vs SA Under-19: Top 5 bowling performances in IND U19 vs SA U19 in U19 World Cup history

Team India are the defending Under-19 World Cup winners after their win in 2022. On Tuesday the men in blue took on hosts South Africa in the 1st Semi-Finals of the 2024 edition. 

The two teams have enjoyed a healthy rivalry with each other. Virat Kohli had a famous run-in with the Proteas during the 2008 World Cup finals. Both nations have benefited from the tournament with new players coming out of the Under-19 Tournament. 

In this article, we take a closer look at the top five wickets during the India vs South Africa Under-19 World Cup history. 

Vicky Ostwal – 5/28 versus South Africa- 2022 World Cup 

Young left-arm spinner Vicky Ostwal was one of the star performers of the 2022 tournament. During the fourth match of the campaign, India faced South Africa in the clash of the Titans. India batted first and scored 232 thanks to Yash Dhull top scoring with 82. 

When the ball was given to Vicky Ostwal the South Africans didn’t know what hit them. The young spinner picked 5/28 from his ten overs. From 138/3 the Proteas were bowled out for 187 thanks to the guile of the young Ostwal. 

Pradeep Sangwan – 5/44 versus South Africa – 2008 World Cup 

Team India came into the 2008 Under-19 World Cup under the captaincy of Virat Kohli. Pradeep Sangwan who is Kohli’s good friend turned out to be a major wicket-taker. The youngster picked 5/44 with the ball from his ten overs. 

The spell came during the group phase match of the tournament which India went on to win. This put Sangwan in the list of most wickets in the India U19 vs South Africa U19 World Cup. On that day his victims included Pieter Malan, JJ Smuts, Reeza Hendricks, and Rilee Rossouw. 

Raj Bawa – 4/47 versus South Africa – 2022 World Cup 

Young all-rounder Raj Bawa is touted as a future Indian star and the 2022 U-19 World Cup showed us why. In the same game that Vicky Ostwal showed his magic, Raj Bawa played perfect second fiddle. 

The four-wicket haul made the youngster one of the top wicket-takers in the India vs South Africa U-19 World Cup history. His biggest wicket was that of Dewald Brevis who scored 65 runs. 

Ravindra Jadeja – 3/23 versus South Africa – 2008 World Cup 

Just like the Vicky Ostwal and Raj Bawa combination, the 2008 World Cup saw Ravindra Jadeja and Pradeep Sangwan wreak havoc. The left-arm spinner picked 3/23 from his 7 overs which included the wicket of Wayne Parnell. 

Ravindra Jadeja’s efforts saw him put his name into the all-time wicket-takers of India vs South Africa U19 wicket-takers list. Team India won the game and went on to win the tournament against the same opposition. 

Victor Mpitsang – 3/27 vs India – 1998 World Cup 

India and South Africa played each other in the Under-19 World Cup of 1998. Mohammad Kaif was the captain with players like Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh in the lineup. Fast bowler Victor Mpitsang was the hero of the day for the home side in Johannesburg. 

The first wicket for Mpitsang was that of Reetinder Sodhi for 7. This was followed by the wickets of tail-enders Arvind Solanki and Amit Bhandari. India managed to score 197 as the home team won the game by 4 wickets.