Wisden’s India Under-25 ‘Test’ XI

Shubman Gill

FC record: 31 matches, 2,684 runs @ 58.38, seven 100s, 14 fifties

The youngster, who made his debut against Australia last year, averages a little under 32 in the longest format, but has impressed with his solid technique in tough conditions. He averaged 51.80 Down Under, and saw off the new ball in the recent WTC Final against New Zealand to further give a glimpse of his skills.

Prithvi Shaw

FC record: 25 matches, 2,263 runs @ 51.43, nine hundreds, 10 fifties

The right-hander was dropped from the Test side after technical issues emerged, but his short career thus far indicates that he has the potential to become one of India’s greatest. Shaw has scored 339 runs in five Tests thus far with the help of one hundred and two fifties, and has been called in as a replacement for the series against England.

Devdutt Padikkal

FC record: 15 matches, 907 runs @ 34.88, 10 fifties

The youngster had scored 649 runs in the last edition of the Ranji Trophy to top score for Karnataka. Though he is yet to score a hundred in Ranji Trophy, he has scored close to 1,000 runs in 15 games with a high score of 99. With a flurry of shots in his armoury, Padikkal is known for his impeccable timing, and can be a future superstar in the international side.

Anmolpreet Singh

FC record: 27 matches, 1,691 runs @ 44.50, five hundreds, eight fifties

Anmolpreet started his FC career with scores of 50, 113, 267, 12, 40, 252* and 19 in the 2017-18 Ranji Trophy to end as the tournament’s fourth-highest run-scorer at an average of 125.50. He has also played for the Indian Board President’s XI, which indicates that he has already managed to capture the attention of the selectors. He did not have the best run in 2019-20, scoring just 120 runs in 11 innings, but with an FC average of 44.50, he is expected to bounce back in style.

Sarfaraz Khan

FC record: 17 matches, 1,463 runs @ 66.50, four hundreds, four fifties

The Mumbai player scored 928 runs in the last edition of Ranji Trophy, with a high score of an unbeaten 301. Known more for his big-hitting skills, Sarfaraz has slowly but surely emerged as a beast in red-ball cricket as well — he averages 66.50 after 17 games with the help of four hundreds and four fifties.

Abdul Samad

FC record: 10 matches, 592 runs @ 39.46, two hundreds, three fifties
4 wickets @ 17.75

The Kashmir player has broken stereotypes, batting with aggression in red-ball cricket. Though the teenager has played only 10 FC games thus far, he has two hundreds and three fifties to his name along with a strike-rate of 112.97. Watching him bat with Pant in the longer formats would be a treat.

Rishabh Pant (wk)

FC record: 45 matches, 3,255 runs @ 50.07, eight hundreds, 14 fifties

The wicketkeeper is undoubtedly the first-pick in this side. With his fearless batting against the best bowlers around, Pant has been an invaluable member to the side in the last few months. Since the beginning of 2021, Pant has averaged 53.18 in eight matches with a strike-rate of 72.85.

Washington Sundar

FC record: 17 matches, 798 runs @ 36.27, one hundred, five fifties
36 wickets @ 30.75, two five-fors

The all-rounder impressed with his batting skills at the Gabba earlier this year, when his unbeaten 62 helped the side to a crucial win against the Australians. Overall, he has played four Tests, scoring 265 runs with a high score of 96*, and has picked up six wickets as well. Though Sundar last played a Ranji Trophy match in 2017, he has displayed his big-match temperament at the grandest stage.

Sai Kishore

FC record: 17 matches, 48 wickets @ 26.10, three five-fors

A handy spinner, who has used his height to good effect, Sai Kishore is known for his variations, which has made him a match-winner for Tamil Nadu. He has picked up 48 wickets in 17 games thus far at an average of 26.10 with best figures of 6-107. Kishore picked up 23 wickets in the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy to finish as his team’s top wicket-taker.

Arzan Nagwaswalla

FC record: 16 matches, 62 wickets @ 22.53, four five-fors

Picked as a standby player for the England tour, Nagwaswalla has had a blazing start to his FC career, averaging 22.53 after 16 games whilst picking up 62 scalps. He was the highest wicket-taker for Gujarat in the 2019-20 season of the Ranji Trophy, and his left-arm fast bowling adds variety to the line-up.

Ishan Porel

FC record: 22 matches, 61 wickets @ 25.75, three five-fors

The Bengal pacer was picked as a standby for the white-ball series of Sri Lanka, after impressive showings in domestic cricket. Bursting onto the scene during the 2018 Under-19 World Cup semi-final against Pakistan, where he rattled the arch-rivals with his four-for, Porel, who can constantly send down deliveries over 140kmph, has picked up 61 wickets thus far in 22 FC games. He also has three five-fors and four four-wicket hauls to his name in the format.