Cricket is entering a new era. Young talents, rising stars of modern cricket are ready to shape the sport’s future. With skill, grit, and passion, they are moving from local nets to national arenas. These players are not just promising—they are already making an impact. From India to South Africa, they are grabbing global attention. Here are ten young cricketers who are shining bright for their national teams.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi (India) – The Teenage Sensation
At just 13, Vaibhav Suryavanshi made history in the IPL 2025 auction. He became the youngest player ever to earn an IPL contract. Rajasthan Royals signed him for INR 1.1 crore.
Before that, he had already shone for India Under-19. He hit a 58-ball century against Australia Under-19 in a four-day match. He also scored 176 runs at an average of 44 in the 2024 ACC Under-19 Asia Cup. In Bihar’s Randhir Verma Tournament, he smashed an unbeaten 332.
At 14, Suryavanshi lit up the IPL. In his debut season, he scored 252 runs in seven matches. His strike rate was an incredible 206.55—the highest in the season. He smashed 101 off just 38 balls one of the fastest centuries in IPL against Gujarat Titans. His calmness and technique have stunned fans and experts. Navjot Singh Sidhu called him a “once-in-a-generation talent.”
Sam Konstas (Australia) – The Dynamic Opener
Sam Konstas has been a standout talent since his early days. He piled up nearly 5000 runs in school, age-group, and grade cricket. His consistent hundreds made him a name to watch. Still, his rise to top-level cricket came at incredible speed.
By the start of the 2024-25 season, he had played only four first-class matches. Yet, he began with twin centuries against South Australia. He became the youngest to do so in the Sheffield Shield since Ricky Ponting. That performance pushed him into contention for Australia’s Test side.
Initially, he missed out, as selectors preferred Nathan McSweeney. But Konstas soon scored 107 off 97 for the Prime Minister’s XI against India. That knock changed everything. Within a month, he got the Test call-up.
His aggressive style draws comparisons to David Warner. Damien Fleming has tipped him for a long run in Australia’s Test team.
Jacob Bethell (England) – The Rising Star
Jacob Bethell made his mark on a cold night in Cardiff. In just his second game for England, the 20-year-old smashed 20 runs off Adam Zampa in one over. He then scored a quick 90 in 47 balls with Liam Livingstone, helping England chase 194. He followed up with three unbeaten fifties on the Caribbean tour. Soon after, he earned a Test spot for the New Zealand series.
Born in Barbados, Bethell moved to England at 13 on a Rugby School scholarship. He joined Warwickshire’s youth system and signed professionally at 17. He debuted in the T20 Blast in 2021 and starred in the 2022 U-19 World Cup, scoring 88 off 42 in the quarterfinal.
In 2024, Bethell shone in the Blast and Hundred, attracting top T20 franchises. A stylish left-handed batter and left-arm spinner, he’s also a top fielder. He impressed in New Zealand, scoring 260 runs at No. 3, cementing his England spot.
Shubman Gill (India) – The Consistent Performer
A right-hand top-order batsman, Shubman Gill is from Punjab. He is known for being a mature player with an appetite for runs, as he quickly progressed through the ranks. He was the vice-captain of India’s Under-19 team in the 2018 World Cup. Gill made his debut in first-class cricket in the 2017 Ranji Trophy, scoring a fifty and following it up with an elegant 129 in his second match.
Gill had often been playing in age groups above his own level during his junior career. He scored 351 runs in an Under-16 Inter-District match back in 2014 and also shared a record 587-run opening partnership with Nirmal Singh. On his debut in the Under-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy, Gill hit a double century. Today, Gill is one of the mainstays of the Indian batting unit. He has more than 2500 ODI runs at an average above 60, including a double century. He mustered 354 runs in the 2023 World Cup. His recent Player of the Series exhibit against England assures us of his rising stature.
Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand) – The All-Round Maestro
A vigorous left-handed top-and-middle-order batsman and an equally capable left-arm finger spinner, Rachin is a well-known name in the cricket fraternity for a long time. He was identified early in his cricketing life as a future star and played for New Zealand in two Under-19 World Cups. His debut in senior cricket came in 2021. His entry into Test cricket drew immediate attention when he faced the likes of Ashwin and Jadeja for 91 balls in the fourth innings, contributing heavily towards New Zealand’s draw in Kanpur.
Ravindra stole the show at the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. He topped the New Zealand scoring charts and stood fourth overall, amassing 578 runs in 10 innings averaging 64.22 at a strike rate of 106.44, equaling Kane Williamson for the most World Cup runs by a New Zealander.
Trained by his father, Ravi Krishnamurthy, he carefully honed his skills against spin through tours to India and hot properties in IPL 2024, where he replaced Devon Conway at CSK and smacked 37 off 15 on debut for a brilliant start. Later, Ravindra also won the MLC with Washington Freedom, which earned him his first New Zealand Central contract.
Noor Ahmad (Afghanistan) – The Spin Prodigy
Noor Ahmad has emerged as a rising star for Afghanistan cricket. A left-arm wrist spinner, he is next in line after Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. His uncommon angle gives him a handsome advantage in being wanted in T-20 leagues across the world. Noor made his first-class debut in the year 2019, making him just 14 years old; he became the youngest player to play in the Big Bash League with the Melbourne Renegades at 15. He then featured for the Karachi Kings in the PSL before being drafted into the national team setup of Afghanistan.
After capturing 10 wickets in the Under-19 World Cup of 2022, he made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe, going on to capture four wickets while being named Player of the Match. His ODI debut was made in November of 2022. Noor featured in the 2023 ODI World Cup and 2024 T20 World Cup. He played a major role Y in his IPL debut season with 16 wickets for Gujarat Titans to help them into the finals. Defining his status, at 20, Noor is proving vital for Afghanistan’s bowling attack already.
Naseem Shah (Pakistan) – The Pace Sensation
Naseem made his way into the limelight as a teenage pace sensation from Pakistan. He made his first-class debut at 15 for Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited, an unknown domestic team. With a smooth, whippy motion and natural speed, he quickly projected himself on the big stage in Pakistan’s strong fast-bowling pool. Naseem made his international debut at just 16 during Pakistan’s tour of Australia in Brisbane.
Sadly, his mother passed away a few days before he received his first cap, which only accentuated his talent. He became the youngest fast bowler in Test history to register a five-wicket haul in his second Test against Sri Lanka. In his third Test match, he also bagged a hat trick versus Bangladesh, becoming the youngest player ever to do so. Injury caused due to his high-speed bowling kept him away from the game for over a year before he made his return in March 2022 against Australia with the same pace he originally possessed. Now, he has become a lethal new-ball partner along with Shaheen Afridi for Pakistan.
Matthew Breetzke (South Africa) – The Record-Breaking Debutant
Matthew Breetzke is one of the new stars of South African cricket. An attacking top-order batsman and quick fielder, he is credited with his aggressive approach and pressure-handling skills. Keshav Maharaj, captain of Durban Super Giants, likened his attitude to that of Virat Kohli. Breetzke’s talent was evident from a young age. He represented Grey High’s first team at the age of 14 and played for South Africa’s Under-19 team on a regular basis at 16. He made more than 1,000 runs in 25 Under-19 youth ODIs and was South Africa’s second-highest scorer in the 2018 Under-19 World Cup.
He represented the South African Emerging Squad in 2018 and made his debut with Eastern Province. He was the leading run-scorer in the 2022–23 CSA four-day competition, with three centuries at an average of 60.58. Quick-scoring is his forte, and he made his T20I debut in September 2023 against Australia. Breetzke grabbed headlines with 150 on his ODI debut—the record highest debut score in ODI history.
Kwena Maphaka (South Africa) – The Young Pace Prodigy
Kwena Maphaka’s emergence in South African cricket has been rapid and impressive. At 17 years of age, he was recruited by Mumbai Indians for IPL 2024, even before his international debut. In the beginning of that year, he dominated the Under-19 World Cup, claiming 21 wickets at 9.71 and claiming the Player of the Tournament award. Though he appeared in just two games for MI, he accumulated essential experience.
Rajasthan Royals purchased him for INR 1.5 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction. By this time, Kwena Maphaka had represented South Africa in all formats. Maphaka had also played for Paarl Royals in the SA20 league. Maphaka is renowned for his left-arm pace and control. He has already sent major batters back in ODIs and Tests. His chances of captaining South Africa’s bowling side appear more probable.
Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan) – The All-Round Dynamo
Azmatullah Omarzai is an allround fast bowler who has emerged as one of the pillars in Afghanistan’s development as a well-rounded cricketing nation. Originally rated as a batting prospect, he developed into the team’s leading seam-bowling allrounder. Omarzai played his first ODI in 2021 and his first T20I the following year. His breakthrough arrived in 2023, with 15 BPL wickets and 10 additional wickets in the PSL for Peshawar Zalmi.
In the same year, he made 417 ODI runs at 52.12 and claimed 17 wickets to be awarded the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year award. In the 2025 Champions Trophy, he claimed a five-wicket haul against England and a crucial 67 against Australia. His performances indicated his worth in both departments. Omarzai’s ability to strike early with the ball and finish with the bat has made him a vital asset for Afghanistan.
