5 Surprise Performers for India in 2016

The year 2016 saw India produce some fine young talent across formats and several of the young turks put in some fine performances. There were also a few who showed massive improvement in their game and excelled.

Here’s a look at the Top 5 Surprise performers of 2016:

5.Umesh Yadav(ODIS)

At the end of last year, many came to a conclusion that Umesh Yadav was more suited for the Test format after he cleaned up South Africa in the Delhi Test. But despite those talks, he was picked for the limited-overs tour to Australia and leaked runs on the tour, especially in the initial overs.

After the Test series against New Zealand, the Vidarbha pacer was picked again for the limited-overs series and this time around displayed a lot more control in his bowling and was rewarded for his efforts, with 8 wickets in 5 matches to finish as the second highest wicket-taker in the series,

Umesh has always had the pace but lacked consistency in his lines, but towards the end of the year, he showed that he could get that into his game as well.

4.Jayant Yadav(Tests)

Not many would have predicted the emergence of Jayant Yadav in international cricket in 2016. But the Haryana cricketer, who was picked in the India squad ahead of the second Test against New Zealand, made his debut in the second Test of the following series against England and from the moment he stepped onto the field, showed that he belonged on the international scene.

Jayant picked up 9 wickets in his debut Test series with the ball, but impressed everyone with the bat as well, making some useful lower-order contributions, that also included a maiden Test ton in the Mumbai Test.

It has been a great start for the young man in international cricket and he will look to carry it forward in 2017 as well.

3.KL Rahul(ODIs and T20Is)

Like had been the case with Umesh, KL Rahul was not the favourite’s choice when it came to being a part of the limited-overs side. However, a prolific IPL season for the Royal Challengers Bangalore meant that he was picked for the short tour to Zimbabwe in June and he made an immediate impact, making a hundred on ODI debut and a 33 and 63 in the other two games.

Following the Test series against the West Indies, he was selected for the T20I series against West Indies in Florida and in the opening game made an unbeaten century which almost won India the game.

With some strong showing in coloured clothing, Rahul certainly proved that he was someone who needed to be considered in all three formats of the game.

2.Ashish Nehra(T20Is)

The 37-year-old veteran was recalled into the Indian setup for the T20I leg of the tour of Australia and showed everybody that even at that age, he had in him to bowl at a testing pace. The Delhi bowler was part of the squad for every tournament until the World T20 and repaid the faith shown on him by taking 18 wickets in 15 matches at a reasonable economy rate of 7.01.

While Nehra may not have age on his side, there is no doubting that he can still be an effective customer to have in your arsenal and he will hope that new selection regime provide him with an opportunity in the upcoming series against England.

1.Jasprit Bumrah(ODIs and T20Is)

The find for India in 2016. Bumrah was absolutely phenomenal for India in coloured clothing, picking up 28 wickets in 21 T20Is and 17 scalps in 8 ODIs to finish as one of the bowling unit’s most productive members.

One of the keys to his success was his awkward action that batsman around the globe found it hard to pick and he ensured that right till the end, they could not decipher his action completely.

He will be back in action next month and will look to carry on from where he had left off in 2016.