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Following the end of the 2019 World Cup, rumors are swirling that Mahendra Singh Dhoni is preparing to retire from the international stage. He leaves behind a golden era for Indian cricket, having spearheaded historic triumphs in the 2007 World T20, the 2011 World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy. While he remains a titan with over 15,000 runs to his name, the raw power and agility in his batting have slightly dipped in recent seasons, a trend that was noticeable during the 2019 campaign. As he prepares to hang up his boots, the focus now shifts to the next generation of players who face the daunting task of replacing a legend.international cricket have started coming up. He has given India numerous moments of joy over the years. The 2007 World T20 triumph, 50-over World Cup victory in 2011 after 28 years and the Champions Trophy triumph of 2013 are his most valuable contributions to Indian cricket. With over 15000 international runs to his name, Dhoni has also been a force to reckon with the bat over the years. However, his big-hitting and strike-rotating powers started waning since a couple of years back and it was visible during this World Cup 2019 campaign as well. Nevertheless, with him calling time on his career, it’s time to pass the baton on to the young guns who will have pretty big shoes to fill.
Here are three young talents who possess the skill and temperament to step into the void left by Dhoni.
Rishabh Pant: At just 21, Pant has already demonstrated that he can handle the pressure of elite cricket. Scoring two Test centuries in the challenging environments of Australia and England proved his mettle early on. Even though he didn't dominate the scoreboard when called up as a replacement for Shikhar Dhawan in the recent World Cup, his fluid 40s and a gritty 30 showed glimpses of his ceiling. His domestic form is even more impressive, boasting 2,440 first-class runs across 32 games with a strong average of 53.04.Rishabh Pant: The 21-year-old has already proven that he belongs to the highest level. He already has two test centuries to his name scored in the testing conditions of England and Australia. Moreover, he was called up as a replacement for Shikhar Dhawan midway into the World Cup which concluded recently. Although he didn’t go on to score big, he showed that he has a lot of potential with a couple of breezy 40s and a well-grinded 30-odd during the tournament. His first-class record which reads 2440 runs in 32 matches at an average of 53.04 speaks volumes about his batting talent.
Sanju Samson: The 24-year-old Kerala native has tasted T20I action with India, though he has yet to break into the other formats. Despite appearing in only one T20I so far, Dhoni's departure is likely to create the vacancy Samson needs to prove himself. Currently regarded as one of India's top emerging wicket-keeper batters, he has amassed roughly 3,000 first-class runs in 53 appearances. While his average of 36.81 might seem modest, it's important to remember he started playing at a very young age and has evolved into a much more polished batsman since then.Sanju Samson: The 24-year-old batsman from Kerala has already made his T20I debut for India but is yet to feature in the other formats. He hasn’t been given any other opportunity after his maiden and only T20I match but Dhoni’s retirement will definitely open up the doors to the Indian team once again. Samson is one of the best young keeper-batsmen in the country right now. He has around 3000 first-class runs to his name in 53 matches at an average of 36.81. Don’t let the middling average fool you as he started out quite young and is a much better batsman now.
Ishan Kishan: Many remember how a young Dhoni from Jharkhand burst onto the world stage fifteen years ago, and it feels like history might be repeating itself with Ishan Kishan. Hailing from the same region, the 20-year-old has become a sensation in the domestic circuit, even before making his international debut. Kishan maintains an average of around 40 in both first-class and List-A cricket, with eight centuries between them and two more in the T20 format. Much like the early version of Dhoni, Kishan is an aggressive hitter and a non-traditional keeper who plays with flair.Ishan Kishan: Everyone is familiar with how a young Dhoni from Jharkhand took the international scene by storm 15 years ago. A similar story might be in the making as another young talent from Jharkhand, Ishan Kishan, seems to be following Dhoni’s footsteps. He is yet to make his India debut but has made quite a buzz in India’s domestic circuit. The 20-year-old averages around 40 with the bat in both first-class and List-A cricket. He has a combined tally of eight centuries in the two formats and two hundreds separately in T20s as well. Kishan is an explosive batsman and an unorthodox wicket-keeper, just like Dhoni used to be during his initial days.
Written by: Prasenjit Dey