Exclusive: India U19 ODI Team of the 2010 Decade

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant among the star players included in the India U19 ODI Team of the decade 2010s.

U-19 is the place where it all begins for all future superstars to have played for countries across the world. India, for example, has seen the likes of Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Irfan Pathan, Yuvraj Singh, etc. replicating their U19 success at the International level.

The 2010 decade too has given many stars, but those players would get much visibility in the 2020 decade when they set new records for the national side. So, who are the top U19 players of the 2010 decade, and how would they form a perfect 11, let’s have a look at the India U19 ODI Team of the Decade 2010*. 

As usual, we would not build the team based on perceptions, because perceptions bring biases. Hence, like always, we are going to build the team based on performance rating, which we feel is the most comprehensive and unique way of finding the team of the year/decade.

*Please note, as an exception, performances till the end of U19 World Cup 2020 have been taken to calculate the team of the decade 2010s. 

OPENERS

Shortlist: Ankush Bains, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Unmukt Chand, Vijay Zol, Prithvi Shaw, and Divyansh Saxena.

#1: Yashasvi Jaiswal

Inns: 27 || Runs: 1386 || Avg: 63.9 || SR: 83.8 || Rating: 6.9

Needless to say, Yashasvi Jaiswal is the best U19 batsman at the moment. Not only in his U19 stats, but Yashasvi has also been stunning in the Domestic cricket having already hit a double-hundred in List A cricket.

Playing for India U19, Yashasvi Jaiswal has scored a total of 1386 runs from 27 innings at an average of 63.9, and a strike rate of 83.8. He was the leading run-scorer of the U19 World Cup 2020 having scored consistently in all the matches he played. 

#2: Unmukt Chand (C)

Inns: 21 || Runs: 1149 || Avg: 67.6 || SR: 83.9 || Rating: 7.1

Unmukt Chand may have gone into oblivion after having led India U19 to a title victory in 2012, but he still remains as one of the best openers to have played for the India U19 team. Overall, he has scored a total of 1149 runs from 21 innings at an impeccable average of 67.6. Moreover, he is also the captain of the side given his successful stint as the Captain with the India U19 team. 

MIDDLE-ORDER

Shortlist: Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, Rishabh Pant, Priyam Garg, Baba Aparajith, 

#3: Shubman Gill

Inns: 15 || Runs: 1149 || Avg: 104.5 || SR: 103.2 || Rating: 10

Probably the best U19 player of the decade, Shubman Gill has produced a Bradmanesque performance during his U19 stint with Team India. In the 15 innings he has played for Team India, he has produced 1149 runs at a humongous average of 104.5, and a strike rate of 103.2. That’s like Virender Sehwag playing in Sir Don Bradman’s attire. Given his success, he would be a perfect player for India at number 3.

#4: Shreyas Iyer

Inns: 10 || Runs: 366 || Avg: 36.7 || SR: 105.8 || Rating: 5.2

Team India’s solution to number 4 at the moment, Shreyas Iyer too came into limelight for his performances in U19 and domestic cricket. Although not quite as impressive as his counterparts, Shreyas Iyer had decent returns in U19 scoring 366 runs from 10 innings at a superb strike-rate of 105.8.  

#5: Rishabh Pant (WK)

Mat: 11 || Runs: 454 || Avg: 41.3 || SR: 110.5 || Rating: 6.7

The most aggressive batsman of the lot, Rishabh Pant has been a revelation in not only IPL and Domestic cricket, but also in his U19 days. In the 11 innings he has played for India U19, Pant has scored 454 runs from 11 innings at an average of 41.3, and a stunning strike rate of 110.5. His knock of 78(24) against Nepal U19 is still ranked among the best. 

ALL-ROUNDERS

#6: Sarfaraz Khan

Mat: 30 || Runs: 1080 || Wkts: 13 || Rating: 6.7

One of the only few players to have played two U19 World Cups for Team India, Sarfaraz Khan came into limelight for his unorthodox attacking shots down the order. With 1080 runs at a strike rate of 101.7, Sarfaraz Khan is fifth on the list of most runs for India U19. Additionally, he is a handy leg-break bowler with 13 wickets to his name 

#7: Deepak Hooda

Inns: 18 || Runs: 490 || Wkts: 30 || Rating: 7.1

One of the most talented teenagers of the decade, Deepak Hooda has been sensational playing for India U19, but hasn’t had similar success playing in the domestic cricket, or the IPL. Nevertheless, In the 18 innings he has played for India U19, Hooda has managed 490 runs at a strike rate of 102.5 along with 30 wickets; thus making him a perfect player for number 7. 

BOWLERS

Shortlist: Atharva Ankolekar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Dagar, Kuldeep Yadav, Kartik Tyagi, Sushant Mishra, Sandeep Sharma, Baba Aparajith. 

#8: Atharva Ankolekar

Inns: 14 || Wkts: 31 || Avg: 11.5 || ER: 3.3 || Rating: 9.1

The slow left-arm spinner, Atharva Ankolekar has been the best spinner of the decade for the U19 Team of India. A total of 31 wickets from 14 innings makes 2.21 wickets per innings; second-best after Mayank Dagar in the last decade for India. His economy rate of 3.3 is also the second-lowest among bowlers with 15 wickets or more. 

Mayank Dagar, another slow left-arm spinner has been stunning, but Atharva has been marginally more effective spinner; hence gets the preference. 

#9: Ravi Bishnoi

Inns: 18 || Wkts: 39 || Avg: 15.3 || ER: 3.8 || Rating: 8.5

One of the finds of the U19 World Cup 2020, Ravi Bishnoi has been a wicket-taker. His fast sliding googlies remind so much of Rashid Khan that it is actually very difficult to separate these two. He led an inspirational fightback in the U19 World Cup final with his 4 wicket-haul even though India were on the losing side. Overall, Bishnoi has taken 39 wickets from just 18 outings at a superb average of 15.3, and consistency of 83.3%. 

#10: Sandeep Sharma

Inns: 25 || Wkts: 46 || Avg: 17.6  || ER: 3.7 || Rating: 7.9

Just like Sarfaraz Khan, Sandeep Sharma represented India in two U19 World Cups; 2010 and 2012, and had tremendous success as a bowler. Known for his fantastic ability to swing the ball both ways, Sandeep Sharma produced 46 wickets from 25 innings at an economy rate of 3.7 including 24 maidens; the most by any teenager. 

#11: Sushant Mishra

Inns: 18 || Wkts: 36 || Avg: 16.7 || ER: 4.5 || Rating: 7.4

A tall left-arm pacer running in with a decent speed is a sight that describes Sushant Mishra, the second pacer of this side. He may not have the fame of Kartik Tyagi, but that doesn’t stop him from being the second-best pacer of the decade.

Sushant has 36 wickets from 18 outings at an average of 16.7, and an economy rate of 4.5. It is his wicket-taking abilities that make him a slightly better prospect than Kartik Tyagi. 

#12^th Man- Kuldeep Yadav

Inns: 24 || Wkts: 48 || Avg: 16.3 || ER: 3.9 || Rating: 7.8

The leading wicket-taker of the decade for India, Kuldeep Yadav has been one of the finds through the U19 camp. Not only his wicket-taking abilities, but Kuldeep Yadav has also impressed with his consistency and economy rate.

In the 24 innings Kuldeep has played, he has taken 48 wickets at a consistency of 75%. If not for Bishnoi and Atharva Kuldeep would have been the leading spinner for sure. 

The U19 ODI Team of the Decade 2010: 

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Unmukt Chand (C), Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Deepak Hooda, Atharva Ankolekar, Ravi Bishnoi, Sandeep Sharma, and Sushant Mishra

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