Given the depth of talent India have in all formats of cricket, breaking into the national team is no easy feat. Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill and Washington Sundar have all proved there are still opportunities there for young players if they are good enough.
Here is a look at three uncapped players who will be pushing for their international debuts for India in 2021.
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal featured in India’s under-19 side at the 2020 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. India finished runners-up in that tournament after losing to South Africa in the final. Jaiswal was one of the stars of that team with the bat, where he frequently was his side’s top scorer.
Jaiswal also made his debut in the IPL in 2020 in a huge year for the youngster. He opened the batting alongside Steven Smith in his opening game for the Rajasthan Royals.
In 2019 Jaiswal became the youngest player in history to hit a double century in List A cricket. With more experience under his belt in 2021, it may not be long before we see the explosive left-hander given a chance in India’s T20 squad.
Jaiswal will be hoping to break into the team before the World Cup in October where India are the favorites in the outright market. Sportsbettingmarkets point out that the competition is one of the biggest in the sport for betting turnover and if Jaiswal does get his chance to shine, he could be a player to follow in the top run-scorer markets.
Ishan Kishan
As with many young cricketers in India, Ishan Kishan’s idol growing up was M.S Dhoni. The 22-year-old will be hoping to follow in the legend’s footsteps this year by keeping glove for India in one of the formats of the sport.
Not only is Kishan proving to be very consistent as a wicketkeeper, his batting is also helping him to grab the headlines. He hit more sixes than any other player in the 2020 IPL and was a crucial player for the Mumbai Indians, who lifted the trophy at the end of the tournament.
Kishan has been selected for the India A squad so he is clearly on the fringes of selection to the first team. That opportunity does not look far away now and could come when India host England in February.
Devdutt Padikkal
Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Devdutt Padikkal was named as the Emerging Player of the Season in the 2020 IPL. The left-hander is not just a player who can shine in T20 cricket, he is being seen by many as a future opener for India’s test side.
India have struggled for consistency in Test cricket over the last 12 months. Their disastrous First Test result against Australia in their recent series has put the current squad under a lot of pressure when it comes to their future in the side.
Padikkal has an impressive average in all formats of the game. He has already represented India’s under-19 side and it would be a surprise if he did not feature for the senior team in 2021.
Jaiswal, Kishan and Padikkal are just three of India’s cricketers who are pushing some of the experienced players in the India squad for places, so it bodes well for the future of the national team in the sport.
