Virat Kohli's 2008 U-19 World Cup Triumph
February-March 2008What Happened
An 19-year-old Virat Kohli captained India to their second U-19 World Cup title in Malaysia, scoring 235 runs in six matches and taking four wickets. In the final against South Africa, India won by 12 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method after rain interrupted play.
Outcome
Kohli earned an IPL contract with Royal Challengers Bangalore within months. Several teammates, including Ravindra Jadeja and Manish Pandey, also secured professional contracts.
Kohli became Test captain in 2014 and is now the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket history with over 28,000 runs. His trajectory validated the U-19 World Cup as India's primary talent identification event.
Why It's Relevant Today
Suryavanshi's 2026 final performance (175 off 80 balls) mirrors Kohli's star-making moment. Both were standout performers in winning finals who had already attracted IPL attention before the tournament.
