U-19 World Cup Final: 'Chin up boys', Netizens react as India lose yet another ICC event final against Australia

Team India’s heartbreaks in ICC events continued on Sunday with the Uday Saharan-led side getting overpowered by Australia in the final of the U-19 World Cup on Sunday. After a dominant, unbeaten run throughout the group stage as well as in the Super Sixes, the ‘Boys in Blue’ had narrowly scraped through into the final with a nervy win over South Africa, but couldn’t quite achieve a repeat of that result in the summit clash.

Set a challenging 254 to win by the Aussies thanks to Harjas Singh’s 55, the Indian team lost wickets in a heap to get reduced to 122/8, and were eventually bowled out for 174 to suffer a 79-run defeat. Seamer Mahli Beardman (3/15) and off-spinner Raf MacMillan (3/43) led the way with three-wicket hauls, the former winning the Player of the Match award, as the Indians lost wickets in a heap in the middle overs and never quite recovered from there on.

As It Happened: India vs Australia, 2024 U-19 World Cup Final

The Aussies ended up winning the U-19 World Cup for a fourth time in their sixth appearance in a final, and have won four ICC events in the space of a year — defeating India in each of the last three.

Despite finishing on the wrong side of the result yet again, a large section of social media users sympathised with Saharan and Co, who were unbeaten in the World Cup up until Sunday’s final.

Here are select reactions on microblogging platform X, formerly Twitter:

Well fought boys! Your effort has paved the way for an exciting journey. Keep going strong – the rewards will be totally worth it! #INDvsAUSfinal #U19WorldCup

— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) February 11, 2024

Proud yesterday, proud today, proud tomorrow. #OneFamily #MumbaiIndians #U19WorldCup

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) February 11, 2024

Chin up boys, we are always with you #U19WorldCup pic.twitter.com/x1C5VgQQA4

— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) February 11, 2024

“It’s not the goodbye that hurts, but the flashbacks that follows.”
So it’s another big heartbreak and we have still not recovered from the last one #INDvsAUSfinal #INDvsAUS #owned #chokers #U19WorldCup2024 #U19WorldCupFinal #GlennMaxwell #INDvAUSpic.twitter.com/7nAd2S4p3d

— Arpita Singhal (@arpita_singhal1) February 11, 2024

The result may not be always in our favour but our men did well on the field we must appreciate it….

Well Played Team India #INDvAUS #U19WorldCup2024 #CricketTwitter #Final #U19WorldCup #Cricket pic.twitter.com/W9ich692He

— ℕℝ (@iamajayjangirr) February 11, 2024

There were also those who saw the funny side of the Indian team’s defeat, while some made mention of the ‘choker’ term that for long had been associated with the South African cricket team but has been used to describe Indian teams across age levels and formats in recent years:

Losing to Australia in a World Cup Final. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/rw2XcmTUdS

— Sagar (@sagarcasm) February 11, 2024

Their adults beat our adults.
Now their kids beat our kids.
It’s time our legends play their legends.#INDvAUS

— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) February 11, 2024

Is Indian team the new chokers of international cricket?

— Pradeep Magazine (@pradeepmagazine) February 11, 2024