U-19 World Cup 2026: How R.S. Ambrish evolved as a new ball bowler during India’s triumphant campaign

India’s U-19 World Cup triumph was still sinking in for all-rounder R.S. Ambrish, who on Saturday described the moments after the final as emotional and collective rather than personal. “We were all very happy. I didn’t even expect that moment. Everyone was on their toes and running. We dedicated it to each other. We played as a team. So, it felt like a reward for everyone’s hard work,” he said over the phone.

One of the defining off-field moments of the campaign came before the high-pressure clash against Pakistan, when Sachin Tendulkar addressed the squad. “He gave many good examples,” Ambrish said. “As players, we go through bad patches. He spoke about how to recover from it – that there will be bad phases in cricket, but we shouldn’t let ourselves down and come back up. He spoke about the mindset.”

Ambrish’s own evolution came through his role with the new ball. After focused work during a mid-tournament break, he grew into the responsibility, finding success with subtle outswing and pressure-building dot balls.

“After the first two matches, we had a six-day break before playing against New Zealand. So, during that gap, I practiced well with the new ball. It was useful. And since I got four wickets (4/29) in my first match with the new ball (vs NZ), I continued with it.

“My bowling was a bit back-of-the-length earlier. This time, I tried putting it more on the up (fuller lengths). For me, generally, the ball swings away. Not too much, just a minimal amount. They (the batters) will think it’ll come in due to my action, and nick off,” said the 18-year-old.

From the dugout, Ambrish also had a ringside view of Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s defining knock (175, 80b, 15×4, 15×6) in the final – something he said felt almost routine for a batter of that mindset. “Even in the semifinal, he gave us a good start. And in the final, he took it forward,” Ambrish said.

Watching it unfold, there was little surprise – only mounting excitement. “He’s done this many times before. Doing it in the final, some shots were fabulous. Everyone was on their toes – we had to stand and applaud almost non-stop, because he kept on hitting. As a batter, he always comes in with a great mindset,” he said.

Reflecting on the campaign’s impact, Ambrish called the U-19 World Cup “the starting stage of a player’s career,” noting that strong performances can open doors to the state team and beyond. His long-term ambition is clear: “Main goal is to see myself in the senior India team.”

Asked about the players he looks up to, he said: “I like Ben Stokes a lot. And Hardik Pandya. These two are the best all-rounders in the world now.”

Published on Feb 08, 2026