Best under-25 XI of T20 World Cup 2021

Cricket is one of the toughest games. You need to be good to excel in this sport. Thus, only the best of the best thrive in cricket. 

Despite all the talks of the necessity of experience to be the best side, youth is equally important. It is the young blood that assures you commitment. Over the years, we have seen several youngsters do well in international cricket.

Even in the ongoing T20 World Cup, we have already seen a lot of young guns win games for their side. Despite being less than 25, several players have proved to the world that they are here to stay. So who are the most impressive youngsters who are playing this edition of the T20 WC?

Here’s a look at the Under-25 XI of T20 World Cup 2021:

1) Glenn Phillips

Glenn Phillips is a gem of a player. This 24-year old lad deposits the ball a long way. His potential is immense.

The Kiwi batter has already scored 505 runs in 25 T20I games so far. His batting average and strike rate in this format are 28.06 and 149.41 respectively. This includes 2 fifties and a hundred.

Flexibility is his biggest USP. He can bat anywhere in the top order. His keeping skills are a bonus. Thus, the youngster will be a key player for the Kiwis in this edition of the T20 WC.

2) Mohammad Naim

Naim is one of the most exciting cricketers from Bangladesh going around. Cricket experts rate him highly. His age is just 22.

The opener has played 25 T20Is so far. He has scored 696 runs at an average and strike rate of 29.0 and 108.41 respectively. This included 4 fifties as well.

The Bangladeshi has already proved his worth in the ongoing T20 WC. He scored an amazing 62 from just the 52 deliveries. This knock included 6 boundaries.

3) Charith Asalanka

Charith Asalanka is a boon to Sri Lanka. He has instantly made a mark for his team. So much so that he has already sealed his spot in the T20I side despite playing just the 5 matches.

The 24-year old has scored 150 runs in this 5 T20Is. His batting average and strike rate are 37.5 and 120.97 respectively as of now. This includes an unbeaten 80.

This 80 came in this T20 WC itself against Bangladesh. It consisted of 5 boundaries and 5 sixes. He went on to win the player of the match award for this knock as well.

4) Shimron Hetmyer

Shimron Hetmyer is considered to be the next big thing in Windies cricket. He has already achieved a lot in such a short period. Right from his U-19 days, he was highly rated among all the cricket pundits.

His versatility as a batsman is marvelous, to say the least. Not only can he hit the pacers but he also happens to be a superb player of spin too. It gets scary when you realize that he is just 24.

The talented youngster has scored 548 runs in 38 T20Is so far. His batting average and strike rate in this format are 19.57 and 116.6 respectively. These numbers are only going to get better in the due course of time.

5) Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan has been rated highly even before he made his international debut. He has already shown glimpses of his potential in the IPL. On top of that, his age is just 23.

He had announced his entry into international cricket with some style. The wicketkeeper-batsman scored a brilliant 56 on his T20I debut against England. That knock showed how good he is.

The fact that he can not only play as an opener but also as a middle-order batsman is icing over the cake. The Indian selectors showed a lot of faith in him when they picked him in the T20 WC squad ahead of the veteran Shikhar Dhawan. It wouldn’t be surprising if Virat Kohli does select him in the playing XI in India’s next match.

6) Rishabh Pant (C and WK)

Rishabh Pant has already taken the world by storm. His audacious shots are second to none. At the age of 24 when most of the players make their international debut, he has already emerged as a world-class cricketer.

The keeper-batsman has scored 551 runs in 33 T20Is so far. His batting average and strike rate in this format are 22.04 and 123.82 respectively. It is safe to call him an absolute dynamite.

Thus, he is the captain and keeper of this XI. The southpaw scored a superb 39 on a rather bad day for his team on the field. One could only expect him to have a great tournament owing to his current form and abilities.

7) Shadab Khan

Shadab Khan is one of the most valuable players in Pakistan right now. At the age of 23, he has already become a vital cog in the Pakistan team. Bowling, batting, fielding you name it!

It wouldn’t be an overstatement to call him a complete package. The bowling all-rounder has taken 59 T20I wickets in 50 innings so far. His bowling average and strike rate in this format are 23.02 and 18.76 respectively.

His economy rate is on the lower side as well (7.36). Not to forget his skills with the bat. He has scored 226 runs in 22 innings in the shortest format of the game.

8) Curtis Campher

Curtis Campher has become the talk of the town. Despite his team’s early exit from the tournament, he has already managed to grab the headlines. The all-rounder was one of the positive aspects of a rather poor tournament for Ireland.

He is just 22 years of age. The Irishman has picked 9 wickets in the 7 T20Is in which he has played so far. His T20I bowling average and strike rate are 20.0 and 14.78 respectively.

This includes a four-fer that came against the Netherlands in this T20 WC itself. Campher has also scored 75 T20I runs so far. It is an absolutely shame that we won’t get to see more of him in this edition of the T20 WC.

9) Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan is already one of the best of this generation. His international career has been nothing short of a fairytale so far. At the tender age of 23, he has created a legacy for himself.

The Afghan all-rounder has not only been a boon to his nation but also to the lovely game of cricket. He has picked 99 T20I wickets so far in just the 52 games. His bowling average and strike rate are 12.21 and 11.84 respectively.

He has a commendable economy rate of just 6.19. Not to forget his batting and fielding skills as well. The spin wizard has had a good start to 2021 T20 WC as he picked 4 wickets in Afghanistan’s opening game against Scotland.

10) Shaheen Afridi

Shaheen Afridi has already become Pakistan’s lead pacer. Despite being just 21, his skill is as good as a veteran. Several cricket pundits have already started to call him the next big thing in cricket.

The pacer has picked 35 wickets in 31 T20I games so far. His bowling average and strike rate in this format are 25.94 and 19.09 respectively. He has a decent economy rate of 8.16 as well.

He was fantastic on his T20 WC debut against India as he went on to pick three wickets against them on Sunday. These wickets included the likes of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli. This spell turned out to be a match-winning one and Pakistan ended up beating India.

11) Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Mujeeb turned 20 barely 7 months ago. However, he has already managed to impress one and all. He along with Rashid have been the pillars of Afghanistan cricket for quite a while now.

The spinner has picked 30 wickets in just the 20 T20I games so far. His bowling average and strike rate are 15.43 and 15.2 respectively. This includes a miserly economy rate of just 6.09.

He has had a brilliant start to the ongoing T20 WC as he picked a fifer against Scotland in his first game. He comfortably ran through the Scottish top order. Thus, he ended up winning the player of the match award in his T20 WC debut as well.