The concept of the U19 World Cup was started way back in 1988 and since then, there have been 12 editions. Barring the gap between the first two editions which was 10 years, an Under 19 World Cup is played every two years. Historically, India have done very well. They’ve won four titles and have finished as runners-up twice.

Moreover, over the years, India have produced multiple cricketers who have transitioned brilliantly from the Under 19 level to the senior team. The likes of Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant are a few well-known names who soon made it to the national side after their success at the Under 19 level.

However, there have been players who have had a huge gap between their Under 19 World Cup and their international debut. Hence, here are five such players.

1. Siddarth Kaul – (2008 to 2018)

India’s bowler Siddarth Kaul celebrates with Virat Kohli. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Siddarth Kaul was one of the stars for India in the 2008 Under 19 World Cup. He was Virat Kohli’s premier fast bowler in the tournament. The right-arm pacer played five games and picked up 10 wickets at an average of 15.40. In fact, he was entrusted with the responsibility of bowling the last over in the final as well. Hence, Kaul had made an early impression.

However, it took him a decade to make his international debut. He has been a prominent figure in the IPL and in domestic cricket. But it was only in Ireland in 2018 that he received his maiden India cap. However, he hasn’t really been a regular member of the side.

After making his debut in a T20I against Ireland, he made his ODI debut a couple of weeks later against England. But he has played just three T20Is and as many ODIs. The last time he played an international game was earlier this year. Kaul featured in a T20I against Australia in Bengaluru.

2. Ambati Rayudu – (2004 – 2013)

Ambati Rayudu. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

Ambati Rayudu has been in the news quite a bit since his omission from the World Cup squad earlier this year. He tweeted out his frustration before calling it a day and quitting international cricket. Rayudu has had an up and down year so far.

However, it was as a 16-year-old that he gained attention in 2001. Rayudu became the captain of India’s Under 19 World Cup team in 2004 which lost in the semi-finals. He didn’t have a great tournament as he could muster just 149 runs at an average of 24.83.

However, he was once again in the limelight during the Indian Cricket League (ICL) in 2007 before it was scrapped. But in 2010, he was picked up by Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL and did very well. Hence, he was a consistent performer but only got his chance in 2013. Rayudu made his debut in Zimbabwe in an ODI in 2013 and also scored a solid 63. It was only a year later that he first played T20Is.

Hence, Rayudu had a nine-year gap between his Under 19 World Cup and international debut.

3. Mayank Agarwal – (2010 – 2018)

Mayank Agarwal. (Photo Source: Twitter)

2010 wasn’t a great year for the Indian Under 19 side. They failed to cross the last eight stage in the Under 19 World Cup that year. The batsmen failed miserably. However, there was one small shining light.

You don’t expect someone with 167 runs at an average of 27.83 to be your leading run-getter in the tournament. But that was the case for India. Mayank Agarwal was the one who scored that many and topped the run charts for his side. Post that, Agarwal was a regular in the IPL and also various Karnataka sides.

However, it was only a couple of seasons ago where Agarwal reinvented himself and scored a plethora of runs and knocked the selection door down. After scoring tons of runs for Karnataka and India ‘A’, the opener got his chance to make his international debut at the MCG in the Boxing Day Test last year. He has made an impressive start to his Test career.

4. Shikhar Dhawan – (2004 – 2010)

Shikhar Dhawan. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)

If there is one man who has dominated ICC 50-over tournaments in the last few years, it has to be Shikhar Dhawan. The Delhi opener has been very successful in the One-Day format and has also done very well in big tournaments. He was India’s leading run-getter in the 2013 Champions Trophy, 2015 World Cup and the 2017 Champions Trophy.

However, Dhawan’s love for ICC tournaments started way back in 2004. In the Under 19 World Cup, the left-hander amassed 505 runs at an average of 84.16. He was by far the best batsman. However, it took six years for him to get his first break at the international level.

In 2010, Dhawan got a chance against Australia in an ODI but failed to make it count as he was out for a duck. A year later, he made his T20I debut in the Caribbean before announcing himself on the big stage with a smashing Test debut.

5. Hanuma Vihari – (2012 – 2018)

Hanuma Vihari. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Hanuma Vihari boasts of one of the best first-class averages among active cricketers in the world at the moment. With almost 6000 runs in red-ball cricket, Vihari has an average of 59.23 which is one of the 11th best of all time. However, this success hasn’t come easy for Andhra Pradesh lad.

It was in 2012 when he played the Under 19 World Cup. India won that edition under Unmukt Chand. However, Vihari wasn’t really noted as he returned with paltry 71 runs from six innings. Moreover, he didn’t bowl as well. However, he went back to domestic cricket and scored a lot of runs and got them consistently. He translated that to the ‘A’ level cricket as well.

Vihari finally got his chance in the last Test against England at the Oval in 2018. He impressed on debut and has played three more Tests since then. In fact, Vihari also opened the batting in the Boxing Day Test last year. But he is one of the incumbent Indian middle-order batsmen and will be looking to seal a permanent spot in the middle order.