From 1988 to 2024: List of captains to win the ICC U19 World Cup

India have won five titles in the history of ICC U19 World Cup.

The ICC U19 World Cup has become a prestigious tournament in the world of cricket. So far India, Australia, Pakistan, England, West Indies, South Africa, and Bangladesh have managed to win the title. India are the most successful team with most U19 World Cup titles in history. This event has also become a launch pad for many young aspiring cricketers in the World.

Australia’s Geoff Parker was the first-ever captain to lift the ICC U19 World Cup in 1988. After 1988, the second edition of the event was played in 1998. Since then International Cricket Council (ICC) has organised this event over a gap of two years. Many cricketers have landed an opportunity in the national squad after winning the title as captain. Let’s have a look at the list of captains to win the ICC U19 World Cup.

Captains to lift the ICC U19 World Cup trophy:

1. Geoff Parker (Australia) – 1988:

Australia were the inaugural champions of the ICC U19 World Cup in 1988. Geoff Parker became the first-ever captain to lift the U19 World Cup. Geoff Parker-led side had a dominating campaign in the first ever Junior Cricket World Cup and won eight out of nine games they played. Australia defeated Pakistan in the final played at Adelaide Oval. Geoff Parker represented Victoria and South Australia in domestic cricket but failed to get a national call-up.

2. Owais Shah (England) – 1998:

In the second edition of the ICC U19 World Cup in 1998, England won the tournament under Owais Shah’s leadership. England defeated New Zealand at Wanderers, Johannesburg in the title clash of the 1998 edition. Owais went on to represent England senior men’s cricket team and played six tests, 71 ODIs and 17 T20Is.

3. Mohammed Kaif (India) – 2000:

Mohammed Kaif was the first ever Indian captain to lift the ICC U19 World Cup title. India won their first ever ICC U19 World Cup trophy in 2000 when they defeated Sri Lanka in the final of the tournament. Kaif-led India U19 side won the tournament unbeaten. Kaif went on to represent senior men’s Indian cricket team in 13 tests and 125 ODIs later in his career.

4. Cameron White (Australia) – 2002:

Cameron White was the second Australian skipper to lead his side to a title win in the ICC U19 World Cup. Australia defeated South Africa in the final of 2002 edition played at Bert Sutcliff Oval in Lincoln. Cameron White went on to represent the Australia’s senior men’s side in four tests, 91 ODIs, and 47 T20I games. While also led Australia in T20I cricket.

5. Khalid Latif (Pakistan) – 2004:

Khalid Latif was the first ever Pakistan captain to win the ICC U19 World Cup. Pakistan defeated West Indies in the final of the ICC U19 World Cup 2004 played at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka. Khalid got the opportunity to represent Pakistan in five ODIs and 13 T20I games. He retired from professional cricket at the age of 32.

6. Sarfaraz Ahmed (Pakistan) – 2006:

In the ICC U19 World Cup 2006, Sarfaraz Khan captained Pakistan to a title win in the tournament. Sarfaraz-led Pakistan U19 side defeated India in the final at RPS, Colombo to win the trophy. It was a low-scoring final where Pakistan successfully defended their total of 109 runs. Sarfaraz Ahmed is still part of Pakistan senior men’s cricket team in the longest format of the game. The wicket-keeper batter has so far represented Pakistan in 54 tests, 117 ODIs and 61 T20Is.

7. Virat Kohli (India) – 2008:

India got their hands on ICC U19 World Cup title for the second time in 2008 under Virat Kohli’s leadership. Virat rose to fame after winning the prestigious youth title held in Malaysia. Virat Kohli didn’t take it long to get drafted to the India senior men’s cricket team after the U19 World Cup 2008. Virat Kohli-led side defeated South Africa in the big final to clinch the trophy in 2008. Virat Kohli has become a super start of the game and scored 80 international centuries in his career so far.

8. Mitchell Marsh (Australia) – 2010:

In the 2010 edition of the ICC U19 World Cup, Australia clinched their third title. Mitchell Marsh-led side defeated Pakistan in the final at Bert Stucliff Oval in Lincoln to lift the title. Marsh is an active cricketer currently in Australia senior men’s cricket team. So far he has represented the senior men’s team in 40 tests, 89 ODIs and 50 T20Is.

9. Unmukt Chand (India) – 2012:

Delhi-born Unmukt Chand was India’s third captain to lift the ICC U19 World Cup. Unmukt Chand-led side defeated hosts Australia in the final played at Tony Ireland Stadium in Townsville in 2012 edition of the tournament. Chand smacked a magnificent hundred (111) in the final to lead his country to a magnificent win. Unmukt Chand never got the chance to play for India senior men’s cricket team. In 2021, at the age of 28, Unmukt Chand announced his retirement from Indian cricket and shifted to USA in hope of playing international cricket for the USA.

10. Aiden Markram (South Africa) – 2014:

In 2014, South Africa won their maiden ICC U19 World Cup title. Aiden Markram captained South Africa in the 2014 edition of the tournament played in the UAE. Markram-led side defeated Pakistan in the final to clinch their maiden U19 World Cup trophy. Markram even won ‘Player of the Tournament’ award for his performance throughout the tournament.

11. Shimron Hetmyer (West Indies) – 2016:

This edition of the U19 World Cup produced several international cricketers for the Caribbean side. Shimron Hetmyer-led West Indies defeated India in the final played at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka and won their first ever U19 World Cup title. Left-hand middle order batter Shimron Hetmyer has so far played 16 Tests, 53 ODIs, and 57 T20I games for West Indies’ senior men’s cricket team.

12. Prithvi Shaw (India) – 2018:

Under Prithvi Shaw’s captaincy, India won their record-breaking fourth ICC U19 World Cup trophy in 2018. India defeated Australia in the battle of supremacy played at the Bay Oval in Mount Manganui. Prithvi Shaw made his test debut later in 2018 and hit a century on his debut, but faded away soon from the senior men’s cricket team. Prithvi has so far represented India’s senior men’s cricket team in five tests, six ODIS and one T20I.

13. Akbar Ali (Bangladesh) – 2020:

This was the most unexpected final in the ICC U19 World Cup history. Bangladesh won their first-ever ICC title at any level. Bangladesh U19 side defeated India in the final played at Senwes Park, Potchefstroom. Wicket-keeper Akbar Ali captained Bangladesh to their maiden ICC U19 World Cup title win. Akbar Ali is yet to earn call-up in the senior men’s Bangladesh cricket team.

14. Yash Dhull (India) – 2022:

In 2022, India won their record fifth ICC U19 World Cup title. Delhi-born Yash Dhull captained India U19 side to title win in the tournament. Dhull became third Delhi-born and overall fifth Indian captain to lift the U19 World Cup trophy in 2022. Dhull is yet to make his senior men’s debut for Indian cricket team.

15. Hugh Weibgen (Australia) – 2024:

Australia’s fourth ICC U19 World Cup title win came in 2024 when they were captained by Hugh Weibgen. They defeated India U19 in the final to lift the trophy fourth time. Australia U19 defeated India U19 by 80 runs in the title clash of 2024 edition of the tournament. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Australia posted the highest-ever total in ICC U19 World Cup final history – 253/7. They bowled out India for 174 to win the game by 79 runs.

(List updated till 11th February, 2024)

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