India enter the Under-19 World Cup final against England in Harare with a sense of calm that feels almost provocative in its restraint. In a tournament often colored by hype and talk of destiny, this team, led by captain Ayush Mhatre, chose a different style: neutrality, clarity and certainty.If Aaron George’s words are any indication, this isn’t a team obsessed with big plans or emotional highs. “There are no big sermons and lectures. Under coach (Hrishikesh) Kanitkar, sir, we believe in staying neutral and being clear about our roles,” Aaron, a centurion in the semi-final on Wednesday, told TOI.
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Friday will mark India’s sixth consecutive U-19 World Cup finals appearance, a streak that began in 2016. It will be their 10th final at the level, four more than next best Australia. “There is pressure, but I don’t see it as a burden,” he noted.Aaron’s classy 115 against Afghanistan in the semi-final is the third highest score by a batsman in the knockout stages of the U19 World Cup, behind only Nicholas Pooran’s 143 in 2014 and Cheteshwar Pujara’s 129 in 2006.“It was a refusal to see it as anything other than another ball to play,” he said of the winning knock.“There’s no set plan for the finale,” says Aaron. The conditions are familiar enough, but India are willing to let the pitch “reveal itself”. Preparation was based on repetition rather than prediction, on building muscle memory. George admitted that a summit clash presents challenges you can’t rehearse.“At the nets, you can prepare for hours, but a match presents unique challenges that you can’t prepare for. That’s where presence of mind, instinct and honesty prevail,” explains Aaron.Tactic talk aside, telling influences. “I listen to R&B and hip-hop to relax,” he said. Faith, prayer and routine help him stay focused. “I do not fear God, but I love God.” There is also ambition. Aaron talks about wanting to be a tri-format player for India.The pressure, Aaron admits, never goes away. “The difference is to learn to co-exist. This final is not seen as an extraordinary event, but as another game that requires discipline and composure. We will give it 100%,” he added.England, hardened by high-intensity competitions, will test this composure.
