U19 WORLD CUP | Fighting spirit defined this Indian team: Deepesh

D. Deepesh reflects on India's emotional U-19 World Cup victory, highlighting teamwork, personal growth, and resilience throughout the journey.

Silence, emotion, and quiet pride marked India’s u-19 World Cup triumph, according to D. Deepesh, who said the team struggled to find words immediately after the final moments. “No one knew what to say. We were all silent and emotional,” he recalled over phone on Saturday.

For the 18-year-old pacer, the title felt deeply personal. “We are winning after four years. I felt proud and emotional,” he said, adding that his “parents and everyone back home” shared the joy. “This is the result of our hard work,” he said.

Reflecting on the journey, Deepesh said he arrived at the preparatory camps before the World Cup with limited clarity, but emerged more confident and “mature” as a bowler.

“I learned about bowling speed, bowling style, and how to bowl,” he said, pointing to camps held ahead of tours to England, Australia, and the Asia Cup as key to his development.

The most challenging match, according to him, came against Bangladesh. “At one point, it looked like they were going to win. We learned we should stay together as a team. We didn’t give up and fought back,” he said.

That fighting spirit, Deepesh believes, defined this Indian side — a team that stayed united, resilient, and unyielding till the end. “We were all a team. No one gave up on each other,” he said.