There are always some players in every generation who rule the cricket fraternity. Players like Sachin Tendulkar, Brain Lara, Dale Steyn, Jacques Kallis, etc. were the superstars of the previous generation while we currently have Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, Joe Root, Jasprit Bumrah, etc. are some of the big names of the generation.
These players have something that makes them stand out in the crowd, and you know that they’ll make a massive impact in the future. Today we are going to talk about 5 such players from the current generation who probably will create a huge impact by their performances and will make a big name for themselves in the future.
#5 Nicholas Pooran
Nicholas Pooran has already shown what he’s capable of in the shortest format and even in ODIs too. The southpaw from the Caribbean is an exciting young aspect. He bats very aggressively and can tear apart any bowling line up on his day. He is a good player of spin and pace bowling and would easily walk in any team’s middle order.
Pooran has scored 2381 runs in T20s at an average of 24.54 striking at 143.78, which is impressive for someone who started his career playing in the lower order. His numbers are improved while batting at 4-5. His IPL strike rate is 157 after 6 innings.
His 118 (103) against Sri Lanka in the 2019 World Cup shows that he has a great temperament to survive for the long run. Pooran will surely want to improve his numbers, but one thing is for sure that he is a generational talent and has the potential to be very successful, at least in the limited-overs format.
#4 Naseem Shah
Debut for the national side at 16. Youngest bowler to take a 5 wicket haul in test history, youngest to take a test hat trick. These feats are enough to prove how good Naseem Shah is. The 17-year-old pacer has caught everyone’s eye since his debut against Australia in October 2019. He bowls 145+ consistently at this young age.
Shah, in his brief career, has impressed everyone in the cricketing community. He has 14 wickets in 4 tests including a 5-for and a hat trick as mentioned. In his 11 first-class games Naseem has 40 wickets at an average of 19.97. Shah bowls fast is very young and has the backing of some of the masters of the game. With the talent he has one thing is sure that he is here to stay.
#3 Marnus Labuschagne
The new test sensation Marnus Labuschagne is the latest star batter in the cricketing arena. From being the world’s first concussion substitute to being the 4th ranked batsman in ICC Test Rankings after just 14 games, Labuschagne has shown what he is capable of. He’s mentally very tough and gritty. Labuschagne scored 353 runs at an average of 50 in 7 innings of 4 tests in the 2019 Ashes.
He averages 63.43 in 14 tests, scoring 1459 runs including a double hundred. Marnus scored 896 runs including his first four tons against Pakistan and New Zealand respectively. Although he is yet to be tested in the subcontinent conditions, his numbers are staggering and will be a very impactful player for the Aussies in the future.
#2 Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill is rated very highly by all the experts. Gill caught everyone’s eye in the ICC U-19 World Cup 2018, which India won. He scored 372 runs in 6 games at a whopping average of 124, including three fifties and a hundred against Pakistan. He was the man of the tournament in that series.
Gill’s domestic and IPL records prove why he is rated highly by the cricket pundits. He made his Ranji debut for Punjab in 2017 and scored a half-century in that game, followed by a 129 in the next game. He has scored 2133 runs in 21 First Class games at an average of 73 with 7 tons and his highest score being 268. He’s also scored 2280 runs 57 List A games averaging 45.60.
The 20-year-old plays for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL and is an essential member of the KKR side. Shubman has 499 runs in 24 games. He’s averaging 33.23, striking at 132 with the highest being 76.
His stats speak for him, and you can sense after watching him play that he’s here to stay and is a potential superstar of the game in all the three formats.
#1 Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant is an impact player, and he has proved that in the IPL and the handful of test matches he has played. The southpaw has scored 2675 runs with a strike rate of 156.34 which shows his consistency in the shortest format. Pant has 2558 runs in 36 First-class games with his highest score being 308. He has 814 test runs in 13 matches at an average of 38. He is the only Indian wicket-keeper to score a ton in England and Australia.
Pant can be as destructive as anyone when on a song. Everyone has very high expectations from him being the successor of Dhoni, but he is an exceptional player and should be treated as what he is. He plainly has shown glimpses of what he can do, and if managed well, can be one of the best we as fans have ever witnessed.
