With a population of 1.4 billion, India never stops producing talented cricketers. Whether it’s the India Premier League or any other domestic tournaments, we often find new names who perform admirably well to get recognition in the world.
In the recent ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2023, India A team became the runner-up as they lost the final against Pakistan A. There were a lot of positives in the form of emerging players for Indian cricket.
Here are the five players to look out for in the future:
Sai Sudharsan
If there’s one particular name that is doing rounds in various circles of Indian cricket, then this is it. The 21-year-old from Chennai has earned so much in the last year, the reason being his patience, temperament, and hard work. With that Sangakkara-like cover drive and Yuvi-like slogs, Sai has shown what pure class and ruthlessness he carries in an inning.
The year 2023 is turning out to be a golden one for Sai, as he smashed 96 in the IPL final, four half-centuries in the TNPL and now a blistering hundred against Pakistan A in the group stage match of the Emerging Teams Asia Cup. He was a replacement for Kane Williamson and was a perfect one indeed. He smashed 389 runs in the IPL and 221 in the Asia Cup. Due to his gritty performances, Sai advances to be a part of the Indian team as a reserve player in the upcoming Asian Games.
Nishant Sindhu
Not everyone is successful at the age of 19, but a left-arm cheeky spinner from Haryana rose to heights for his all-round performances in the Under-19 World Cup. Imagine what a big addition to the circle of Indian Cricket might this be?
Nishant Sindhu was named in the Emerging India team for the Asia Cup and has shown why he was there.
In a must-win semi-final against Bangladesh, India A team failed to post a decent total. To reach the final, it was on the bowlers to deliver. Nishant’s cheeky left-arm spin got him a fifer, and Bangladesh were nowhere near the target. Sindhu grabbed 11 wickets in just five games and became the player of the tournament. He also scored a quick century in the Duleep trophy against the North-East Zone. With the perfect blend of batting and bowling, Sindhu will be the one to keep an eye on.
Harshit Rana
The Kolkata Knight Riders fame, Harshit Rana, is another player who is making the cut and could be one to savour in Indian cricket. Rana is known for his raw pace, and the bounce he gets from his height is what troubles the batters. He was a part of every game in this Emerging Asia Cup and managed to pick up seven wickets in five games.
He is a bowling all-rounder who can smash sixes all over the ground. His hundred against North-East Zone in Duleep Trophy displays his skills with the bat. In the Asia Cup too, we got to witness some of his little cameos. There’s still room for improvement for Harshit and can turn out to be a great bowling all-rounder for India.
Manav Suthar
Another left-arm spinner is on the cards for success in the Indian cricket world. Manav Suthar is a classic left-arm bowler, who knows the importance of giving air to the ball. In modern cricket where spinners bowls flatter and quicker, Manav isn’tscared to bowl flighter and that is what makes him special.
He had an amazing domestic season where he bagged 90 wickets in the 2022-23 stint. He is the second highest wicket-taker with 10 wickets in the Emerging teams Asia Cup. The 20-year-old from Rajasthan was a net bowler for the Gujarat Titans this season. With this much talent, Manav Suthar is keen on improving and playing cricket at the bigger stage.
Along with these four, there are a few more who can be exciting to watch. To name a few, Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh, Rajvaradhan Hangargekar and the captain Yash Dhull, who was impeccable and have a great cricketing mind. With the talent in abundance, the future of Indian cricket looks bright enough to carry on the legacy laid down by the veteran players.
Note– Sai Sudarshan image from – KreedOn
Nishant Sindhu image from- News18