Team India’s future stars

Once senior generation stars failing, their place is taken up by upcoming stars and that’s a beauty of any sport. Yuvraj Singh, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja made their international debut at a young age and we have seen what they have done for the Indian cricket. Yuvarj Singh has failed in the longest version of the game while Ravindra Jadeja is also finding hard to adjust himself according to this format. However, there are few upcoming lads who have in them to succeed at the highest level in Test as well as in ODIs.

Baba Aparajith
This 19 year old cricketer is fast moving up the ladder in terms of performances. The right hand batsman from Tamil Nadu has already established himself in the playing XI of the Ranji side. He has a solid technique with great temperament, which is the main reason behind his success. He has already played 24 first class matches, scoring 1425 runs with five centuries and five half-centuries. An average of 52 is enough to sum-up what this lad has done in a short span of time. Even in the 50 over format, Baba has an average of more than 33 (603 runs) in 20 games with a strike rate of almost 80. He has in him to be successful in the shorter format as well. He was part of the Chennai Super Kings in the recently conclude Indian Premier League but due to competition for places, he was not included in the playing XI. However, he would have learnt a lot from the senior pros. If he continues in the same fashion, we could see him in the national colors after one or two years.

Lokesh Rahul
He has become a big name in the domestic circuit with some match winning performances in the last season. The 22 year old right hand batsman was in supreme touch and was one of the reasons behind Karnataka’s treble winning run. He along with Robin Uthappa made sure that their domestic side had a good start in each and every game. Rahul scored more than 1000 runs in the four day format of the Ranji Trophy in the last edition. He has accumulated more than 1600 runs in the 23 games sofar, which is worth applauding. If he has a class in a four day game, his scores in the shorter format is simply amazing. He has played 24 games, scoring 925 runs with 2 hundreds and 6 fifties. The strike rate is 73.35 which will improve with a passage of time. Rahul played some good knocks for his IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad in the seventh season. He is another guy who could make it to the Indian team.

Karun Nair
He was another hero of the Karnataka’s phenomenal Ranji season. The 22-year-old scored consecutive centuries in Karnataka’s 2013-14 Ranji quarter-final and semi-final victories. Karun Nair played 6 games for his state side, scoring 494 runs with 3 centuries to his name. The best thing about Nair is that he can play attacking cricket as well. He has a strike rate of almost 90 with 1 century and 4 fifties (559 runs) in the 18 domestic ODIs. He was one of the find of this year’s IPL. Rajasthan Royals were blessed to have someone like him in their side. He was tremendous in his shot selection and played with freedom. Karun Nair managed 330-run at a strike rate of 142.24 in the cash rich league.

T20 World: Top Contenders

The T20 World Cup is few days away with lots of expectations from the big power houses of world cricket. West Indies have a tough task of defending their crown while the likes of Sri Lanka, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia would like to add this trophy in their cabinet. Here is a look at the top contenders of the World Cup.

India
Team India is always ranked among the leading contenders of any tournament and the upcoming T20 World Cup is no different. They have top quality batsmen in their team but the bowlers are poor than school children's. Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni are the match winners but same can't be said about the bowlers. The pitches in Bangladesh will assist spinners so R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will have to look out for wickets.
Group: B
Prediction: Group Stage Exit

Australia
If anyone saw them playing against South Africa in the recently concluded T20 series, then it won't be difficult to judge them for the upcoming T20 world. Forget about the firing guns like Aaron Finch, David Warner, Glenn Maxwell and Shane Watson, the veteran Brad Hodge is the player to watch out for in Bangladesh. Mitchell Starc is the quality fast bowler even in this format of the game and his partnership with Nathan Coulter-Nile could prove decisive.
Group: B
Prediction: Winner

West Indies
They won the last edition of the T20 World Cup but repeating this feat again won't be easy for them. They have players like Chris Gayle, Darren Sammy, Dwayne Bravo, Marlon Samuels and Andre Russell, who can win matches single handedly while the likes of Sunil Narine is enough to contain the batsmen from world over. However, the loss of Pollard and the pressure of being the reigning champion could pressurize them in this year's competition.
Group: B
Prediction: Group Stage Exit

Pakistan
This is one team who is always on the contender list because of their past record in the T20 World Cups. Pakistan is full of match winners. From Hafeez to Afridi, Umar Akmal to Shoaib Malik there is no end to the availability of power hitters in the side. Saeed Ajmal is the best spinner in the world, who is renowned for taking wickets in huge numbers against the rivals. Playing him is next to impossible on the spin friendly pitches and Bnagladesh certainly has that kind of tracks. However, they lack consistency.
Group: B
Prediction: Semifinalist

Sri Lanka
They have been unlucky not to win this event. Sri Lanka has always played well in the T20 World Cups and the same is expected from them in Bangladesh. Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Angelo Mathews, Kushal Perera, TM Dilshan, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis and Sachithra Senanayake have got impressive track record in the slam bang version of the game. They will be one of the teams to watch out for in Bangladesh.
Group: A
Prediction: Runners-up

South Africa
They have all the talent in the world to win any tournament on papers but have proved failures on the ground. Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, David Miller, Dale Steyn and Albie Morkel are star players but haven't played as a group in the past tournaments and could continue doing so in the T20 World Cup, which will be played in Bangladesh.
Group: A
Prediction: Group Stage Exit

England
The selectors have ended the career of their best batsman Kevin Pietersen and his absence will surely cost them. Their participation in the tournament is just a formality as they won't cross group stage. Michael Lumb, Alex Hales, Eoin Morgan and Stuart Broad might record some good performances otherwise this team has a tendency of failing when exposed to spin bowling on the turning tracks.
Group: A
Prediction: Group Stage Exit


New Zealand
They are the dark horse of the big event. They have played good cricket in the recent times and could reach the knockout stage. Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum, Corey Anderson, Martin Guptill, Nathan McCullum, Jimmy Neesham and Tim Southee are tailor made for the shortest format, who could change the complexion of the game in a span of few overs.
Group: A
Prediction: Group Semifinalist


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AB de Villiers: A modern day genius & world record maker

AB de Villiers, the right hand batsman, is nothing short of sensation across all the formats. He recently became the first batsman to score 12 consecutive scores of 50 in the Test matches. His latest half century in the second Test match against Australia made him the proud owner of this important record. He went pass Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Vivian Richards, who had 11 consecutive half centuries to their names. The South African batsman has also completed 7000 Test runs. He captured this feat when he hit Peter Siddle for a boundary in the 75th over of the day in the second Test match of the series. The back bone of the Proteas middle order has played 91 matches and has 18 centuries and 35 half centuries to his name.

He is now the fourth South African batsman to cross the 7,000 mark. Jacques Kallis, the former all-rounder, leads the table with current captain Graeme Smith and Delhi Daredevils coach Gary Kirsten are in second and third spot respectively. He has been a pillar of strength for a team which is playing pathetic cricket against the visiting Aussies team of late. He is the face of modern day cricket, who is fearless in his approach. This inform player is ruling Test cricket despite playing some unorthodox shots in this version. He has scored over 4000 runs (46 matches) at an average of 63.66 since 2008-09 in Test cricket. Villiers has got the highest average among all the batsmen in the period talked about. If he is the best in the five day game, then there is no letting up in the one day internationals. The captain of South Africa has accumulated 4129 runs (87 matches) at an average of 61.62. His average and strike of 100.43 is enough to keep him at the top of list since 2008-09. He has been doing this day and night out and that too being under severe pressure. Apart from this, he is renowned for his wicket keeping abilities in the Test matches. The guy has back problem but has performed exceptionally well behind the wickets. He has taken some unbelievable catches, which is enough to prove that he has improved a lot as a wicketkeeper.

The best thing about AB is his consistency in his performances. This proven talent has never let his team down in the time of crises. He has played uncountable match winning knocks for South Africa and has bailed them out from loosing positions. The rate at which he scores is phenomenal. He hardly gets troubled by even the best bowlers of the world. The best example was the first Test match against Australia. The whole team had no answer to Johnson’s brutal pace but De Villiers went on to score 91 and 48 in the two innings. In short, he is god gift for our beloved game. Let’s hope he continues to entertain us for long as world cricket certainly need someone like him in order to promote the game in different parts of the world. for more information please visit our site-http://www.crictoday.com/