Five Indian cricketers who made it big at a youthful age

Wonder Cement unvieled a unique 7-a side cricket tournament, last month to promote the sport anomgst youngsters. The initiative will help find young talents across the country. Spread across schools which could see close to 40,000 cricket enthusiasts taking part, the tournament is one of its kind. The winners will recieve a sum of Rs. 3,50,000/- whereas the runners-up will walk away with Rs. 1,40,000/-. In the following slideshow we look at five Indian cricketers who made it big at a very tender age:

#1 Sarfaraz Khan

Sarfaraz Khan created when at the young age of 18, he was signed for a massive sum of Rs. 50 lakhs by Royal Challengers Bangalore, in the Indian Premier League. The Mumbai born batsman has also represented India Under-19s, Mumbai, Mumbai Under-19s and is presently representing Uttar Pradesh in the domestic season.

Sarfaraz has created numerous records in school cricket. He made his Twenty20 and one-day debut for Mumbai last year after his impressive performances in the U-19 World Cup back in February 2014, where he was the third highest scorer for the country. The youngster was presented with his maiden Ranji cap last season. In his first IPL season with Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sarfaraz scored 111 runs in 13 matches at an average of 27.75.

Sarfaraz made his first class debut against Bengal back in December last year, and apart from impressing with his bat, the youngster has shown his bowling skills as well with his right arm offbreak style.

The youngster’s only hundred came against Uttar Pradesh, while playing for Mumbai when he reached his highest score of 155 at Moradabad.

#2 Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan needs no introduction. Nicknamed ‘Gabbar’, Dhawan has come a long way since impressing as a young teenager in the U-19 World Cup, back in 2004. Dhawan finished as the leading run getter in the tournament and was rewarded for his outstanding display with the man of the series trophy. His total of 505 runs still remains the highest ever in an U-19 World Cup.

The 30-year old started his career with the Delhi U-16’s back in 1999/2000 and although he failed to impress initially, the left handed batsman came to light a year later at the Vijay Merchant Trophy, where Delhi finished as runners-up, where Dhawan scored two hundreds, including a massive 199. He finished the tournament with an average of more than 80. Since then there has been no turning back for Dhawan who further earned call ups from the U-17 side of India, the Delhi U-19 squad, all at the youthful age of 15.

Dhawan made his Ranji Trophy debut for Delhi against Andhra back in 2004, and finished as the side’s leading run getter, leaving behind the likes of Ajay Jadeja and Aakash Chopra.

#3 Virat Kohli

Since the very beggining, there has hardly been any doubt on the caliber of Virat Kohli. Aggresive and a very physical player, Kohli made his mark in the world of cricket more than a decade ago when he first represented the U-15 Delhi side back in 2002. It was the start of something special, as the Delhi born batsman ended the tournament as the highest run-getter. A year later he was named captain of the side and the very next year was promoted to the Delhi U-17 squad.

It took Kohli a mere four years to get into the India U-19 squad and he instantly became a hit, while on tour of England. He averaged more than 100 in the three ODI’s the sides played, as India went onto claim the tournament.

“He is a very physical type of player. He likes to impose himself on the game, backs it up with his skill," were the words of Dav Whatmore, the U-19 coach of India back in 2008. It was in this very year, that a young Virat Kohli rose to prominence and make his mark in the country’s cricketing folklore. It was under his captaincy that the side went onto lift the World Cup, beating South Africa in the finals. Kohli was lauded for his astute captaincy and his impressive batting display despite suffering an injury in the quarter finals.

#4 Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh started his cricketing career at the age of 13, when he represented the U-16 Punjab side back in 1995. A year later he took the leap to the U-19 side and on his debut he scored an impressive 137 against Himachal Pradesh. His Ranji Trophy debut came in the same year against Orissa and although Yuvraj failed to get any runs on the board, that did not deter his morale as he soon made it big.

His breakthrough performance though came Cooch Behar Trophy Final of 1999 against Bihar when he scored 358, as opposed to 357 put together by the entire Bihar side. He soon earned a call from the U-19 Indian side and represented them in the U-19 World Cup in 2000. It was there that the boy from Punjab steadied his ship and sailed to help India register their first U-19 World Cup. Under the captaincy of Mohd.Kaif, Yuvraj ended the tournament as the highest run getter and was soon called up by the senior squad.

#5 Sachin Tendukar

Fondly called as the ‘God’ of Indian cricket,Sachin Tendulkar is regarded as arguably the greatest cricketer of all time. The journey for the 42-year old though started back in 1984 when his brother Ajit introduced him to cricket and his mentor Ramakant Achrekar. It was under Achrekar’s advice that Sachin shifted to Sharadashram Vidyamandir in Dadar, Mumbai to pursue his cricketing, a school that was highly recognised for its cricketing facilities.

Sachin spent hours practicing at the Shivaji park and the child prodigy at the age of 14 attended the MRF Pace academy to work on his bowling skills. Though that didn’t work out but it was in the very same year that he made his Ranji debut for Mumbai, albeit as a substitute fielder. At the age of 15 though when finally given a chance, he took it with both hands scoring an impressive ton against Gujarat. He finished the year as Mumbai’s highest run getter and thus earning him a call with the young Indian side touring England.

At the age of 16 he made his Indian senior team debut against Pakistan.