Cricket’s rich history is dotted with legends who have left a lasting legacy on the sport. Through their performances with the bat, ball or both in several cases, these players have risen head and shoulders above their contemporaries to achieve greatness.
For some like Sir Don Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar, the talent was undeniable from the moment they stepped on to the cricket field as a rookie. Meanwhile, others such as James Anderson, Virat Kohli and Younis Khan have honed their skills over the years to ultimately transform into extraordinary players.
Many youngsters, meanwhile, have promised plenty in their fledgling stages before fading into obscurity or mediocrity. As such, it is never easy to predict the career trajectory of young players entering the game, no matter how talented they might be.
While there is no telling where their careers will ultimately lead, there is nothing more exciting than watching fresh talents announcing their arrival in cricket.
In this series, we take a look at some of the most exciting cricketers around the world who are aged 23 or below.
With India’s enormous talent pool and unmatched credentials as cricket’s financial behemoths, there is no better place to start than with the subcontinent giants.
SHUBMAN GILL
Age: 20
Role: Right-handed batsman
Strengths: Strong technique, excellent on both sides of the wicket
Similar to: Virat Kohli
His two ODI appearances so far might have yielded paltry returns, but Shubman Gill is a youngster tipped to go a long way. India are spoilt for choice when it comes to young and upcoming batsmen, and Gill is a name which features high on that lengthy list.
The 20-year-old from Punjab might have leapt into the spotlight after top-scoring in the 2018 U19 World Cup in New Zealand, though he was already making a mark in India’s domestic circuit long before that. Having made his first-class debut for Punjab at the tender age of 18, the right-hander registered a half-century on his Ranji Trophy debut before following it up with a splendid ton in his next outing.
Having idolised Virat Kohli through his cricketing journey, there is a strong hint of the India’s skipper technique in Gill’s batting style. An aesthetically pleasing batsman to watch on both sides of the wicket, the youngster has displayed a penchant for playing the long innings in his formative years.
With a first-class average of nearly 74 after 21 matches, Gill has taken no time at all to find his feet at the senior level. He was only 19 when he slammed a maiden first-class double ton against the West Indies A outfit and he has since gone on to perform the same feat for Punjab in the Ranji Trophy.
He is already an established member of IPL outfit Kolkata Knight Riders while his List A numbers for Punjab are encouraging to say the least. He looks like a batsman who can adapt easily across all three formats, although it is the Test arena where his greatest strengths may lie.
A Test debut for India is only a matter of when, and not if, for Gill who has already been part of the India’s red-ball setup.
PRITHVI SHAW
Age: 20
Role: Right-handed batsman
Strengths: Cut shot, backfoot punches
Similar to: Virender Sehwag
While Gill was racking up the runs for India’s 2018 U19 World Cup squad, it was Prithvi Shaw who lead the outfit as captain. The Mumbai youngster had shot into prominence as far back as 2014, when he scored an astonishing and record 546 runs in a Harris Shield (minor cricket) for his school team.
The opening batsman has maintained that habit of breaking records ever since, and has grabbed every opportunity by the scruff of its neck. He was just 17 when he struck a match-winning ton on his Ranji Trophy debut for Mumbai in a semi-final clash against Tamil Nadu. The same year in 2017, he broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record to become the youngest ever centurion on debut in the List A Duleep Trophy.
His knack of coming up with tons on debut continued on Shaw’s maiden Test appearance for India, with the right-hander scoring a brisk 134 against West Indies in Rajkot. That made him the youngest ever Test debut centurion for India and second youngest Test centurion overall for the country after the legendary Tendulkar.
An attacking batsman who likes to establish his dominance on the bowlers, Shaw has a punchy style laden with an array of back-foot strokes. A doping violation meant the Mumbai man lost some vital formative months due to suspension, though he is now firmly back in the thick of things for India.
His latest Test series in New Zealand might have fetched modest returns, but Shaw’s average in the format is still nearly 56 after four appearances. He is an IPL mainstay already for Delhi Capitals, and looks destined for a long and distinguished career with India.
There are technical flaws in his batting which the youngster will need to address for overseas tours, though his style should yield plenty of runs in home conditions.
YASHASVI JAISWAL
Age: 18
Role: Left-handed batsman
Strengths: Compact technique, good pull and cut shots
Similar to: Shikhar Dhawan
The latest batting sensation to excel for India in the U19 World Cup, Yashasvi Jaiswal is another youngster being tipped for stardom. His career has followed a similar trajectory to that of fellow Mumbai batsman Shaw, as he scored 319 runs while also picking up 13 wickets in a Giles Shield (minor cricket) clash as a 14-year-old.
The left-hander finished as the top-scorer by some margin in the recently concluded U19 World Cup in England and was unlucky to end up on the losing side in the final against Bangladesh. Domestically, Jaiswal has made just the solitary first-class appearance for Mumbai so far, although he has already scorched the run-scoring charts in List A cricket.
In 13 List A appearances, Jaiswal is averaging a staggering 70.81 with the help of three tons and as many half-centuries. Last year, he scored 203 runs off just 154 deliveries in a Vijay Hazare Trophy clash for Mumbai to become the youngest ever double centurion in the entire history of first-class cricket.
His greatest asset is the calm head he has on his shoulders and supreme confidence in his own abilities. Jaiswal never looks flustered at the batting crease and the early signs predict that he should have no trouble transitioning into senior-level cricket.
His run scoring exploits in the 50-over format has seen Jaiswal already earn a lucrative IPL deal with Rajasthan Royals, and he will definitely be one to watch in the next edition of the T20 tournament.
