Under-19 World Cup: Sidhu hails Indian team's performance

CHANDIGARH: Punjab local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Tuesday congratulated the U-19 Indian team for reaching the final of the World Cup.
The Indian team crushed arch-rivals Pakistan by 203 runs in the semi-final clash of the tournament. The minister extended his best wishes to the Indian team for the February 3 final against Australia and prayed for the ultimate glory to come team India's way.
Sidhu credited the exceptional coaching of ex-India cricketer and team coach Rahul Dravid for this shining achievement. He said that Dravid played a yeoman's role in shaping up and honing the skills of the Indian team.
In a statement, Sidhu said that Indian boys delivered par excellence performance in batting, bowling as well as fielding. Having a special word of praise for Shubman Gill who blasted a century (102 not out), Sidhu said that this gem of an innings especially paved the way for the victory of Indian team. He even termed Gill as the future of Indian cricket. He also lauded the performance of the Indian bowlers.
Sidhu said that U-19 players form the nucleus of the senior team in near future and the current performance of the team assures him that the future of Indian cricket is secure. The Indian team has so far been enjoying an unbeaten run in the U-19 World Cup.
Earlier, in the quarter-finals the Indian team beat Bangladesh whereas in the league phase, they topped the group by defeating Australia, Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea. The Indian team has made it to the final of the tournament for the sixth time. The team has won the U-19 World Cup thrice in 2000, 2008 and 2012.