Top 10 Young Players in Indian Cricket

 

The recent exploits of the Indian cricket team have proved that Indian cricket is in good hands. Amidst all the highs and lows and off-field controversies, what stood out is India’s remarkable bench strength. 

It has been sustained on the back of some shrewd planning by the BCCI, along with a domestic infrastructure in the capable hands of Rahul Dravid. So, who are the young Indian cricketers who are leading India’s bid for cricketing supremacy? 

 

• Shubman Gill
  

Shubman Gill is the long-awaited answer to a compact and technically sound opening batsman in the Indian cricket team. Gill is a young Indian cricketer who impressed with his exploits in the recent U19 World Cup and IPL 2020 (averaging an astonishing 124 runs and striking at over 115 in the World Cup).

Adaptable and smart, Shubman carries the confidence to anchor the innings while going after the opposition bowlers when the situation demands. Gill’s start to his Test career has been phenomenal, and there is no reason why he cannot shoulder the opening responsibility for India in test matches to come.

 

• Rishabh Pant
  

The current golden boy of the Indian cricket team, Rishabh Pant, can do no wrong. Recently crowned the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Month (January 2021), Pant is gradually silencing his critics with his striking and effective batting style, and ever-improving skills behind the stumps.  In the recently concluded 2nd test of India vs. England series, Pant pulled off two blinding catches and another couple of equally effective stumpings to put his side in a commanding position. An able successor of MS Dhoni, this young Indian cricketer is carving out a niche for himself as a specialist keeper-batsman in India’s middle order. If anyone had any doubts about his finishing skills as a batsman, they only need to watch a replay of the 4th test of the recently concluded test series Down Under.

 

• Prithvi Shaw
  

Hailed as the next Sachin Tendulkar (he even carries a similar ‘MRF’ bat), Shaw shot into the limelight when he smashed a record 546 in a Harris Shield match in Mumbai. He smashed a century on his Duleep Trophy debut, emulating his idol, Tendulkar’s, record. Although his Indian test team’s position is yet to be cemented, a healthy IPL contract and a couple of good seasons in the premier T20 league always keep him in the reckoning.

 

• Washington Sundar

Remember his nonchalant six off Nathan Lyon in Sydney? That pretty much sums up Washington Sundar’s attitude towards the game. A non-fussy young Indian cricketer, who goes about his job as quietly and effectively as any other, the bowling all-rounder can ably complement his senior pros – the likes of Jadeja and Ashwin – in consolidating India’s lower order. Sundar’s ability to chip in with crucial wickets while keeping a lid on the opposition’s scoring rate makes him a handy all-rounder.

 

• Ishan Kishan

Kishan is a left-handed batsman and wicket-keeper. In December 2015, he was named as the captain of India’s squad for the 2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. In January 2018, he was bought by the Mumbai Indians in the 2018 IPL auction. He was the leading run-scorer for Jharkhand in the 2018–19 Vijay Hazare Trophy, with 405 runs in nine matches. Recently, the Jharkhand skipper Ishan Kishan has unleashed himself at the Vijay Hazare Trophy with 173 (94) runs including 11 sixes and 19 fours.

 

• Shivam Mavi

KKR’s find of the season in 2020, Shivam Mavi combines good variations in his bowling length, line, and speed. At his economic best in the ICC U19 tournament, Mavi can become India’s death bowler of choice in the limited-overs matches.

 

• Devdutt Padikkal

He made his first-class debut for Karnataka in the 2018–19 Ranji Trophy on 28 November 2018. In December 2018, he was bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the player auction for the 2019 Indian Premier League. He was also selected in Karnataka’s squad for the 2021 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Opening the batting for Karnataka in the domestic 50-overs tournament, Padikkal has crossed 50 in all of the matches and his scores in the tournament read 52, 97, 152, 126 not out, 145 not out and 101. Padikkal is the highest run-scorer in the tournament with 673 in six matches

 

• Kartik Tyagi

India doesn’t have too many tall fast bowlers. Kartik Tyagi falls in that rare category. And that is why he is to be treasured. With the uncanny knack to nip the ball around at pace, Tyagi recently toured Australia with the triumphant Indian team, gaining invaluable experience as a net bowler. One does not doubt that he will get his international break sooner rather than later.

 

• Yashashvi Jaiswal

On this list, Jaiswal rose to prominence with three successive centuries in the 2019 Vijay Hazare Trophy, another flamboyant left-handed batsman. He also distinguishes being the youngest cricketer to make a double in List A cricket, which bagged him a place in the India U19 team that played the last World Cup. Moreover, he was named the Player of the Tournament. 

 

• Kamlesh Nagarkoti

Nagarkoti, along with Shivam Mavi, is poised to change the perception that India’s fast bowlers can’t clock 150kph consistently. With efficient workload management, this fast bowling sensation can reach dizzying heights of success!

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