India's Kamlesh Nagarkoti has been the fastest bowler in action at the Under-19 Cricket World Cup. Photo / Photosport
India's Kamlesh Nagarkoti has been the fastest bowler in action at the Under-19 Cricket World Cup. Photo / Photosport
It has not taken Australian Under-19 captain Jason Sangha long to learn the Aussie way of dealing with the media.
The travelling Indian media contingent was hoping yesterday to get Sangha to admit India's pace bowlers, led by the tournament's fastest in Kamlesh Nagarkoti, may be a handful in today'sICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup final at Bay Oval.
But Sangha swatted the questions away with the disdain he hits short balls to the boundary.
"We've got fast bowlers too," he replied putting an end to the question line.
India's top order has been in scintillating form throughout the tournament led by Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill but that did not seem to bother Sangha.
"To be fair good balls can get anyone out. We have a pretty good top order as well. They have some good players but it doesn't really bother us too much. To be fair if we bowl some good balls and get them out to expose their middle order that would be nice," he said.
If India have any weaknesses they have not shown up at the tournament so far with their lowest margin of victory against Australia by 100 runs. But one area they have yet to be tested is in their middle order batting thanks to the dynamic form of the top order.
"They definitely have not been tested there and will have a lot of pressure on them. India are a good team but so are we. We have plans for some of their batsmen and we are definitely ready for some of their players. Cricket is a funny game and good balls will always get good players out¸" Sangha said.
India's Kamlesh Nagarkoti has been the fastest bowler in action at the Under-19 Cricket World Cup. Photo / Photosport
"They have not really seen our side play since that first game (at Bay Oval when India won comfortably). We are a different side and been playing some really good cricket plus they haven't seen our two quick bowlers who didn't play in the first game."
Sangha also dismissed the notion there may be some nerves ahead of the biggest game in the lives of the young players to be screened around the world to a massive audience.
"I don't think there are any nerves in our camp leading into the final. We have played some really good cricket and we are confident in our performance and how we are going to go.
"All the guys are quite excited and myself to lead my country out tomorrow is going to be an amazing feeling. I am really looking forward to it. It is always a great feeling to pull on the yellow colours and represent my country with pride.
"It is the last time we will all be together as a squad and for that reason we are looking forward to the final."
The wickets at the venues in Christchurch, Queenstown and Bay Oval have been excellent, Sangha said.
"The [Bay Oval] pitch was nice, the crowd is amazing here, the facilities have been fantastic and a lovely place to stay as well so hopefully the weather stays good. All the guys have loved playing here. It is a fantastic place to play cricket."
ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup final India v Australia Bay Oval, today, 2pm, free entry Live on SKY Pop Up Channel 55
Road to the Final India v Australia won by 100 runs v Papua New Guinea won by 10 wickets v Zimbabwe won by 10 wickets Quarter-final: v Bangladesh won by 131 runs Semifinal: v Pakistan won by 203 runs
Australia v India lost by 100 runs v Zimbabwe won by 7 wickets v Papua New Guinea won by 311 runs Quarter-final: v England won by 31 runs Semifinal: v Afghanistan won by 6 wickets
