NEW DELHI, March 3: India’s cricket chiefs on Monday announced a cash award of Rs1.5 million ($37,500) for each member of the ICC Cricket Under-19 World Cup-winning squad.

Virat Kohli’s junior cricketers regained the World Cup on Sunday with a 12-run victory over South Africa in the rain-hit final in Malaysia.

“The team has done a great job. It has demonstrated there is a lot of potential in the squad and that the future of Indian cricket is bright,” Indian cricket chief Sharad Pawar said while announcing the award.

Coach Dav Whatmore and members of the team’s support staff will each receive Rs1 million ($25,000), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said.

Dilip Vengsarkar, former India captain and chief selector of the senior team, lauded Whatmore for his role in the triumph.

“It’s a great day for Indian cricket. Whatmore has played a crucial role this time. I would credit the BCCI for appointing him as coach,” he said.

Former Australian cricketer Whatmore was also the coach of Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup-winning senior squad and also guided Bangladesh to the second round of the 2007 senior Cup in the Caribbean.

The Indian juniors’ triumph came after Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s senior team completed a six-wicket victory over world champions Australia in Sydney to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three finals.

The results caused Indian media on Monday to go to town praising cricketers for serving up a double delight.

“Our men and boys show who’s the boss,” screamed a Hindustan Times front-page headline, accompanied by pictures of Virat Kohli with the trophy and senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar.

“Sach is life ...” said a headline on the sports page, but the seniors had to compete with the juniors for space in various newspapers.

“India Thunder-19,” said another headline with a picture of Kohli raising a stump to celebrate the victory.

The Times of India said: “On a historic day for Indian cricket, youth and experience served up a double delight, coming up trumps in two tense final encounters spread across continents.”—AFP