5 youngsters who can make it big at the T20 WC
With the Super 10 round of the ICC World T20 2016 all set to kick off from today, with the hosts India taking on the spirited New Zealand, all the fans will be expecting it to be an evenly contested game.Both the teams have a fine blend of the young and the experienced. Taking cue from the fact that nearly all the teams have had followed the same thought process, we have a number of youngsters who can announce their entry into the international cricket with a bang.While it's a cliche that the experienced names of the cricketing world will be charged up to contribute in all the possible ways for their team once again, what will be interesting to see is how these youngsters fare at the highest level.Here is a look at some of the players, with the age on their side, who can make a serious impact in the ICC World T20, on the back of some consistent and invigorating performances:
#5 Hardik Pandya
For as long as any Indian cricket enthusiast can remember, the Indian team management has had only one item at the top of its wish list - a pace-bowling genuine all-rounder, one who could balance his five-bowler attack while contributing with the bat as well. There was Stuart Binny, there was Gurkeerat Singh Mann and many more, but none could hold on to that spot and then came the entry of Hardik Pandya, the hard-hitting all-rounder that India needed so badly.
It all changed for Pandya in the 2015 edition of the IPL where he catapulted into the limelight with some outstanding performances. Roped in by Mumbai Indians, Pandya was a revelation. Be it hard hitting strokes, playing a live-wire in the field, rolling his arm over at good pace of around 135 km/hour, Pandya was everywhere.
He ended up playing a pivotal role in his franchise's second title triumph by winning two Man of the Match awards during the course of the mega event. Both MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli have been all praises for the swashbuckling all-rounder. His blustery strike rates of 180.65 and 147.62 in the IPL and T20 internationals respectively, are a testimony of his talent and prowess.
If Pandya can hold on to his nerves and come up with some match winning performances in the T20 WC then this could be the stepping stone to greater heights in life.