India A vs New Zealand A: Top 5 young cricketers in focus

The transition period of Indian cricket seems to be right around the corner. This is perhaps the best time, then, to take a look at the best emerging youngsters in the country. The recently started New Zealand A tour of India will be of great importance to these boys. Even for the Kiwis, a couple of youngsters would be fancying their chances of making it to the national squad. So here’s a look at the list of players to watch out for on this tour:

Vijay Zol

Vijay Zol

Zol is one of the most promising young batsmen in the country today. He was chosen as the skipper of the Under-19 side sent to the tour of Sri Lanka. On that tour, he showed his brilliance and oodles of class when he finished as the highest run-getter in both the one-day and the Test matches.

In List A matches, he scored 166 runs in 3 innings, at an average of 55.33, which included 2 fifty-plus scores. In addition to this, he made 301 runs in 2 first class innings, at a whopping average of 150.50. Each of his innings was a century.

Zol has finally got the reward for his sensational performance by getting a chance to play against the Kiwis. He is one of the most impressive players to look out for in this series.

Sanju Samson during the IPL

Sanju Samson

This young talent from Kerala has impressed one and all with his unbelievable performances at just 18 years of age. He has been praised by all the experts and critics for the maturity and skill he has portrayed in his game.

Samson was tremendously successful with the Rajasthan Royals in IPL season 6, where he was chosen as the Best Young Player of the Tournament. In addition, he has got a healthy domestic record to his name – he has scored 381 runs in 13 first class innings, with a highest score of 127*. He also has 291 List A runs to his name in 10 innings.

Samson was the second highest scorer after Zol on the tour of Sri Lanka, where he scored 274 runs from just 6 innings, at 68.50 runs per innings. The Indian selectors would surely be eyeing this young sensation keenly; his performances in the one day matches against the Kiwis on this tour will likely be instrumental in determining his cricketing future.

Tom Latham

Tom Latham

The man who will be leading the Black Caps on their tour to India is Tom Latham. This 21-year-old is an aggressive left-handed opening batsman. He was also included in the New Zealand squad for the Under-19 World Cup which was held in the year 2010.

Playing for Canterbury on the New Zealand domestic circuit and for Durham in the English county channels, the batsman has accumulated 1477 runs in 46 first class innings. His List A record reveals 783 runs from 28 innings. He has already featured in 8 ODI matches for the Kiwis.

Latham is a strong contender to retain a place in the lineup of the currently out-of-form batsmen in New Zealand’s national side. He promises to be a useful player in the comparatively shorter formats of the game. He will be carefully scanned by the Kiwi selectors to determine whether or not he is good enough to retain his place in the national side.

Jiwanjot Singh (Image courtesy Facebook)

Jiwanjot Singh

The Ranji Trophy season of 2012 came as a boon for this 22-year-old batsman from Patiala, Punjab. Jiwanjot boasts of a debut Ranji season record of 995 runs in just 17 innings at an average of 66.33. These numbers include the sensational double ton (213 runs) which he scored on his Ranji debut.

In 17 innings, Jiwanjot has got five hundred-plus scores and got two fifties as well. He has been included in the Test side which will play the New Zealand A side in two unofficial Test matches.

Jiwanjot would be expected to carry on with the sensational form from the 2012 Ranji Trophy season. He is also an exceptional future prospect for the Indian national team due to his tender age and immense talent.

Unmukt Chand

Unmukt Chand

Unmukt Chand was the second youngster after Virat Kohli to lead the Indian U-19 cricket team to victory in the junior World Cup, in the 2012 edition. Chand is among the top youngsters who are being considered by the selectors for the national team.

This top-order batsman from Delhi was instrumental to his team’s success in various tournaments. He has 1296 first class runs under his belt from 36 innings, including two centuries and eight half-centuries. In List A matches, he has 980 runs to his name from 29 innings at an average of 35.00.

Although Chand was not in the best of form in the 2012 Indian Premier League, in which he played for Delhi Daredevils, he is undoubtedly a player with remarkable temperament and class. He is also often compared with Virat Kohli as far as their batting styles are concerned.