5 emerging talents who can make an impact in the Nidahas Trophy

As many as half a dozen regular players have been rested for the T20I Tri-nation Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka commencing from March 6, Tuesday. These players include skipper Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah.

This move will ensure that a new bunch of people get to feature in the Indian XI and have an opportunity to leave their mark as a player and get themselves noticed by the selectors to become a regular in the side.

Although India won both the ODI series and the T20I series against South Africa, there are a few areas in which India seems to be lacking. These include India’s search for a finisher and over-reliance on the Top 3 of the batting order. The Tri Series will be an exciting challenge for some emerging players who have the potential to solve India's problems.

Let us have a look at few emerging players who can make an impact in the Nidahas Trophy.

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#5 Rishabh Pant (20 years)

Pant on his way to a century in the ICC U-19 World Cup 2016

At 20, Rishabh Pant has had an incredible journey till now. A talented wicket-keeper batsman from Delhi, Pant performed brilliantly in the Under-19 World Cup in 2016. His most memorable knocks include a quick-fire 24-ball 75 against Nepal. This knock was followed by a brilliant hundred against Namibia.

Although India lost the title after a defeat against the West Indies in the summit clash, Pant had announced himself on the international stage. After his splendid performances in the World Cup, Pant was picked by the Delhi Daredevils side.

He even went on to captain the Ranji Trophy winning Delhi side in the 2017-18 season. With two T20Is already under his belt, if Rishabh Pant gets a game, it would be fascinating to see how he goes about his business.

#4 Mohammed Siraj (23 years)

Siraj has improved as a pace bowler very rapidly

Mohammed Siraj has improved very quickly as a bowler. Siraj started playing cricket in his seventh standard, very late, considering that he has already represented India after playing with a proper cricket ball for the first time just three years ago.

On the back of a successful IPL season, Siraj featured in a couple of T20Is for India. His numbers, however, are far from impressive - an average of 49 and an economy of over 12. When Siraj plays in the Nidahas Trophy, he would be desperate to set the numbers straight and prove his mark as a bowler in the international sporting stage.

#3 Washington Sundar (18 years)

Sundar bowling in the ICC Under 19 World Cup Final 2016

Another star from the ICC Under-19 World Cup in 2016, Washington Sundar was initially a batsman. With a startling resemblance to R Ashwin’s tale, Washington Sundar, hailing from Tamil Nadu went on to become a proper off-spinner.

He made a name for himself after he cast a spell on batsmen, through his spin in the 2017 IPL representing the Rising Pune Supergiants. Having performed well in a T20I and after an average outing in an odd ODI, Washington would want to take up the responsibility of taking wickets in the middle overs in absence of the wrist spinner- Kuldeep Yadav.

#2 Deepak Hooda (22 years)

Hooda is nicknamed "Hurricane" for his big-hitting ability

Deepak Hooda in sublime touch can be a definite end to the crisis at hand. Hooda can change games in quick time because of his big-hitting ability. Hooda was one of India’s star players when he represented India Under-19s in 2014.

But it was his stint with the Rajasthan Royals that made him a wanted player in every other franchise list. With over 150 runs at a strike rate of over 158, Hooda helped the Rajasthan Royals finish the innings with a flurry of boundaries more often than not.

Apart from his batting wonders, Hooda is a handy off-break bowler as well. He will be a happy man as this is his maiden Indian National team call up and maybe a bit anxious as he awaits one the most precious moments of his career- the international debut.

#1 Vijay Shankar (27 years)

Vijay Shankar, the Tamil Nadu cricketer, can provide stability to the side

A middle-order batsman and a medium pace bowler, Shankar can provide the perfect balance to a side and can allow them to bat deep and at the same time have 22-24 overs in the bank in the shortest format of the game.

Shankar rose to fame when he displayed some extraordinary form of batting in the Ranji Trophy season 2014-15. Especially in the knockout stages of the tournament, Shankar was just unstoppable - scoring a 50 plus score each time in the semifinal and final and converting two of them to hundreds.

With an average of over 49 in First Class Cricket, it is time for Shankar to make his debut when so many regular players are being rested. Shankar is definitely a man to look out for in the upcoming Nidahas Trophy.