When Mohammed Kaif was selected captain for the Under 19 World Cup in Sri Lanka, it was a just recognition of his durability as a class performer ever since he first made a splash four years earlier in the Under 15 World Cup. Unlike many others, Kaif has maintained his level of performance since then, being one of only three survivors in Colombo from the Under 15 squad.

Kaif marshalled his resources well as he successfully managed to knit a bunch of talented individuals into a team that always looked in control in its victory march. Although Kaif was only too happy to let the likes of Reetinder Sodhi, Yuvraj Singh and Ravneet Ricky take centre stage, he left a quiet stamp of authority on every match he played, whether as batsman, bowler or captain.

Leading by example in a crucial Super League match against Sri Lanka, Kaif took 3-29 from 7.4 overs with his off breaks, putting the skids on the home team as it chased a target of 243. In the finals against the same opponent, Kaif did a good containing job, bowling his full quota of 10 overs to take 1-31. Indeed he had the best economy rate (2.88) of all the Indian bowlers in the tournament.

With the bat, his more preferred implement, Kaif produced little cameos rather than the big innings. He stroked 24 not out from 34 balls (3 fours and a six) in the victory chase against England and contributed another 29 from 31 balls in the semi final encounter against Australia. Averaging 34 in the series, he had a highest score of 57 not out.

The World Cup triumph lifted the spirits of a nation just as the senior team was being slaughtered in Australia. Many a face lit up with a wry smile on hearing that India had beaten the junior Australians by 170 runs in the World Cup semi final. It was a reassuring thought that the future of Indian cricket was in safe hands and much of the credit for this should go to the leadership of Mohammed Kaif.

Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka, Jan 2000

Sri Lanka Under-19s v India Under-19s at Colombo (Premadasa), 22 Jan 2000
[Scorecard | Report]

2nd Semi-Final: Australia Under-19s v India Under-19s at Colombo (Sara), 25 Jan 2000
[Scorecard | Reports | Over Graph |
Run Rate Comparison]