Kundu smashes 209 while Deepesh destroys Malaysia's batting lineup.
The Indian Under-19 cricket team continued their dominance in the Asia Cup with a breathtaking performance against Malaysia, securing a colossal 315-run victory on Tuesday. The star of the show was undoubtedly wicketkeeper-batter Abhigyan Kundu, whose explosive unbeaten double ton left the opposition stunned.
A Batting Masterclass
Coming into the crease at number five during the 11th over, Kundu played an innings of sheer brilliance. He remained unbeaten on 209 runs off just 125 balls, anchoring the Indian innings and propelling the team to a daunting total of 408 for 7.
Before Kundu took charge, Vaibhav Suryavanshi provided a blistering start with a quickfire 50 off 26 deliveries. However, the highlight of the innings was the massive partnership between Kundu and Vedant Trivedi. The duo joined forces to stitch together a 209-run stand for the fourth wicket, dominating the Malaysian bowlers from the 11th over right through to the 41st. Trivedi played a crucial supporting role, scoring a solid 90 off 106 balls.
Once Trivedi departed, Kundu shifted gears into overdrive. When he reached 128 runs off 92 balls, he unleashed a flurry of boundaries in the final ten overs, smashing 81 runs in his last 33 deliveries to ensure India crossed the 400-run mark.
Records and Stats
While this Abhigyan Kundu double century is a significant achievement, it is important to note that this match does not carry official "Youth ODI" status. Consequently, South Africa’s Jorich Van Schalkwyk remains the record holder for official Youth ODIs with his recent 215 against Zimbabwe. Similarly, Bangladeshi cricketer Soumya Sarkar had previously scored a double ton (209) against Qatar in 2012 in a non-official fixture.
Malaysia’s Collapse
Chasing a mountain of runs, the Malaysian batting lineup crumbled under pressure. Indian medium-pacer Deepesh Devendran was lethal with the ball, tearing through the top order. He claimed a wicket in each of his first five overs, reducing Malaysia to a precarious 38 for 7.
Despite a brief resistance from the tail-enders, including a 36-run stand for the final wicket, Malaysia was bundled out for a meager 93 runs. Deepesh finished with stellar figures of 5 for 22. For Malaysia, Muhammad Akram was the lone warrior with the ball, taking 5 wickets but conceding 89 runs.
Tournament Standings
With this victory, India has cemented their position at the top of Group A, having previously defeated arch-rivals Pakistan and the UAE. Malaysia, conversely, finishes at the bottom of the table.
