Indian cricket is witnessing a new wave of young talent stepping confidently onto the international stage. Among the emerging names, two 23-year-olds — Harshit Rana and Yashasvi Jaiswal — have drawn the attention of fans and former cricketers for different reasons, sparking a healthy debate about India’s next all-format stars.
Harshit Rana, a pacer from Delhi, made his international debut against Australia on November 22, 2024, in a Test match in Perth. Since then, he has featured in two Tests, five ODIs and three T20Is for India. His rise has been quick and impactful. He was part of the squads that lifted both — the ICC Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup — earlier this year. On October 4, he earned selection again in both the ODI and T20I squads for India’s upcoming white-ball series in Australia. Many believe that his pace, fitness and temperament make him a player who can adapt across formats.
However, former India opener Kris Srikkanth has pointed to another young cricketer as someone he views as a true all-format player right now — Yashasvi Jaiswal. The left-handed batter impressed massively during the second Test against the West Indies at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, where he scored 175 runs in the first innings.
Kris Srikkanth, who opened for India in the 1980s, praised Yashasvi Jaiswal’s natural flair and ability to play his own game without changing his style. He feels that Yashasvi Jaiswal has already shown promise in T20 cricket and will perform well in ODIs too if given more consistent chances.
Yashasvi Jaiswal made his ODI debut against England in Nagpur on February 6, 2025, but has played just one 50-over match so far. He has also been included in the squad for the upcoming three ODIs in Australia, though it appears unlikely that he will immediately break into the starting XI. Despite limited opportunities in the format, many see his strokeplay, confidence and attacking mindset as qualities suited to all three formats.
Kris Srikkanth also shared his thoughts on another young player Sai Sudharsan who featured in the Test series against the West Indies. While acknowledging that Sai Sudharsan showed good technique, especially off the back foot, he suggested that it may be premature to consider him an automatic pick at number three for upcoming Test series.
Kris Srikkanth felt that although Sai Sudharsan played a promising innings, missing out on converting it into a century was a lost opportunity. In his view, crossing the three-figure mark creates a different level of recognition and consistency, and numbers like 50s or 70s rarely carry the same weight in a long career.
The excitement around India’s young cricketers shows how quickly the landscape is evolving. Players like Harshit Rana, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan are not just filling spots, they are putting themselves in conversations about the future of Indian cricket across formats.
Do you agree with Kris Srikkanth?
