Reading comprehension – Under-19 Cricket World Cup passage: who was the captain of the Indian U-19 team described in the passage?

Introduction / Context:
This question is drawn from a passage describing India's victory in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup. The text details the team's unbeaten run, mentions standout players, and highlights the role of Rahul Dravid as coach. It also refers repeatedly to “Prithvi Shaw's boys”, which indicates that Prithvi Shaw was the captain of the team. You must identify this captain from the options.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The passage states that:
- India's Under-19 World Cup team is referred to as “Prithvi Shaw's boys”.
- Rahul Dravid is described as the coach providing a calming presence.
- Manjot Kalra is mentioned as an opener scoring an unbeaten century in the final.
- Shubman Gill is named as part of the batting trio, but not as captain.

Concept / Approach:
In sports writing, the phrase “X's boys” or “X's side” typically refers to the team led or captained by X. Though the passage does not use the word “captain” explicitly, the repeated reference to “Prithvi Shaw's boys” functions as a strong contextual clue. You must distinguish between the captain, the coach, and other players based on these descriptions.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the first paragraph, where the team is introduced as “Prithvi Shaw's boys, astutely coached by Rahul Dravid”. Step 2: Recognise that Rahul Dravid is clearly identified as the coach, not the captain. Step 3: Note that Manjot Kalra is highlighted for his century, and Shubman Gill for being part of the batting trio, with no mention of captaincy. Step 4: Conclude from the phrase “Prithvi Shaw's boys” that Prithvi Shaw is the captain of the team.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick cross-check: if Rahul Dravid were the captain, the passage would not describe him as the coach or refer to the team as “Prithvi Shaw's boys”. Similarly, if Kalra or Gill were captains, the text would typically mention that role when praising them. Instead, captaincy is implied through Shaw’s name attached to the team, confirming option a as correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option b) Rahul Dravid is the coach; the passage emphasises his calming presence in the dressing room and his guidance, not captaincy on the field.
Option c) Manjot Kalra is celebrated for an unbeaten century in the final, but there is no mention of him as captain.
Option d) Shubman Gill is one of the key batsmen in the trio, yet his role is not described as captain either.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes misinterpret the authority figure and choose the coach instead of the captain, especially when the coach is a famous former player like Dravid. Remember that in cricket, the captain is an active player on the field, while the coach provides strategic and psychological support from outside the playing eleven.

Final Answer:
Prithvi Shaw