India U19 Defeats USA U19 in Under-19 World Cup as Arshin Kulkarni’s Century Steals the Show

India’s U19 cricket team secured a convincing victory against their counterparts from the United States of America (USA) in the Under-19 World Cup tournament. The match was held on Sunday, January 28 at the picturesque Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein.

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In their pursuit of a strong target set by India, USA struggled to contain the explosive batting display from the Indian side. Opening batsman Arshin Kulkarni showcased his brilliance with a stunning knock of 108 runs off 118 balls, comprising 8 boundaries and 3 sixes. His impressive century played a pivotal role in India’s dominating performance.

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Kulkarni joined forces with Musheer Khan, and together, they formed a formidable partnership of 155 runs for the second wicket. Initially cautious, the duo steadily built their innings before launching an onslaught on the USA bowlers. Kulkarni was given a lifeline on 16 when he was dropped at mid-off, and he capitalized on it by unleashing several powerful shots, including a six over deep midwicket. He reached his half-century off 70 deliveries and later brought up his hundred off 110 balls, displaying exceptional composure and skill.

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India’s total reached an imposing 326 for 5 in their allotted 50 overs. Captain Saurabh Tiwari’s cameo of 35 runs from 27 balls and valuable contributions from Priyanshu Moliya (27* off 19 balls), Sachin Dhas (20 off 16 balls), and Aravelly Avanish (12* off seven balls) ensured India surpassed the 325-run mark.

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USA faced an uphill battle in their chase and faltered early on. Losing their top-order batsmen Prannav Chettipalayam, Bhavya Mehta, and Rishi Ramesh cheaply, they struggled to build partnerships against a disciplined Indian bowling attack. Saurabh Tiwari spearheaded the bowling effort, claiming impressive figures of 4 for 20 in his nine overs.

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USA’s Siddarth Kappa and Utkarsh Srivastava offered some resistance with a 43-run partnership, but the wickets kept falling at regular intervals, thwarting any hopes of a successful chase. Eventually, USA could only manage 125 for 8 in their 50 overs, falling short by 201 runs.

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India’s victory ensured they maintained their unbeaten record in the tournament and progressed to the Super Six stage. Arshin Kulkarni’s outstanding century and Musheer Khan’s consistent form confirmed their potential as dynamic young cricketers.

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Kulkarni’s excellent performance garnered attention ahead of his upcoming stint with the Lucknow Super Giants franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Picked at his base price of INR 20 lakhs, the 18-year-old all-rounder has showcased immense talent and promises to make a name for himself in the cricketing world.