With U19 World Cup triumph, Australia complete hat-trick of ICC final wins over India

India's U19 team lost to Australia in the ICC Men's U19 World Cup 2024 by 79 runs on February 11, Sunday in Benoni. The U19 World Cup final was dubbed as an event where the young Indian side could possibly take revenge against Australia for the losses in the ICC events over the last 12 months. However, the redemption story turned into a hattrick of disappointments after the Uday Saharan side lost to Australia by 79 runs. The loss came after Australia defeated India in the World Test Championship Final and the ODI World Cup in 2023.

ICC World Test Championship, ICC Men's ODI Cricket World Cup and ICC Men's U19 World Cup. These have been the last 3 marquee tournaments that have taken place over the last year and there have been two things that have stayed constant throughout. Australia and India in the final of the tournament and the former winning the ultimate glory. Australia's U19 team joined their seniors to give the Indian fans yet another heartbreak within a span of 3 months.

Amidst all the hype and anticipation ahead of the summit clash, the young shoulders carrying the hopes of a billion Indians soon turned into a disappointment on the day of final. Bowling first, India gave away the highest-ever total scored in the final of the tournament - 253 runs - and then were bundled out for 174 runs. With the loss, India failed to defend the title.

Australia seem



to be the new arch-rival for India as the Rohit Sharma-led team suffered a heart-breaking loss in Ahmedabad on November 19 in 2023. The home World Cup loss led to Australia becoming 6-time world champions. In the match, Travis Head's century guided the team to a 6-wicket win at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Just like the senior men's team, India's young brigade also reached the final of the U19 World Cup, maintaining an unbeaten streak of 6 matches.

India suffered consecutive defeats in the ICC World Test Championship final in June 2023. After New Zealand in 2021, Australia defeated India by 209 runs at the Oval. Australia also achieved the unique feat of winning all the ICC trophies. The team is a multi-time champion in the ODI format, won the T20I World Cup in 2021 and then won the WTC Final in 2023. India's history in the ICC final against Australia hasn't been great since 2003. India lost to Australia in the ODI World Cup 2003 by 125 runs. In fact, the Australian women's team got the better of India women's team in the ICC T20 World Cup final in 2020.

However, the India U19 team won their last 6 meetings against Australia at the World Cup which also included 2 finals in 2012 and 2018. In the 2024 edition, India lost to the same nemesis yet again. With this, Australia are defending champions of 4 ICC tournaments except for the ICC men's T20 World Cup.