5 current Indian U-19 players most likely to represent India at the highest level

After all the dust had finally cleared, it hardly came as a surprise to see the Indian team lifting the U-19 trophy at the conclusion of the tournament. After all, this juggernaut had entered the tournament with quite some reputation behind them and boasted a pool of talent any cricketing nation would be proud of (not to mention the coaching staff including the likes of Rahul Dravid).

Another thing that shouldn't come as a surprise then is the fact that some of these fine cricketers are bound to represent their country at the highest level whether it is in the Test cricket, ODIs or T20Is, in the not too distant future. Which of them are most likely to do so? Let's find out.

#5 Kamlesh Nagarkoti

The young fast bowler has got a mean streak about him

Kamlesh Nagarkoti is undoubtedly a prized possession India has at its disposal. He has ticked almost all the boxes when it comes to fast bowling. The youngster posesses some serious pace, aggression and seems to bowl yorkers almost at will. It's not often that you see a modern fast bowler intimidate the batsman with his raw pace (over 150 clicks) and fuller lengths in age-group cricket . When someone can fetch 9 wickets in the tournament at an average of around 16, you know you've got a genuine wicket taker around . However, the only worrying sign at the moment is the past track record of promising Indian fast bowlers.

Countless talented fast bowlers from India start off their career looking like million bucks, but eventually the hype cools down. Let's just hope this isn't the case with this promising 18 year old and Nagarkoti goes on to fulfill the promise that he has shown thus far. In order to do so, the board must make sure that he gets the exposure of foreign pitches and isn't just bowling on hopeless flat tracks that offer next to nothing in favor of the bowlers.

#4 Shivam Mavi

Nagarkoti's partner-in-crime has also caught the attention of many.

Staying with the speedsters of the World Cup winning side, the UP-born Shivam Mavi managed to make all the right noises despite seemingly playing a second-fiddle to fellow pacer Nagarkoti. Not only did the youngster click the 140-mark regularly, but what gives him an edge over the other fast bowlers is the consistency in his line and the stubbornness to keep it tight and force the batsman to make a mistake.

The numbers tell a story, and with a tally of 9 scalps at an economy of under 4, it's safe to say that you're looking at a future prospect whose claim to fame won't be a solitary U-19 trophy or even an IPL bidding worth crores, but rather something much bigger and bluer.

#3 Anukul Roy

Anukul Roy played an extensive role for his team with both the bat and the ball

One look at the stats and it's easy to see why this left-arm spinner might have a breezy road ahead of him. The highest number of wickets in the tournament (14) and a strike rate of 14.1 reflects on the wicket-taking capability of the spinner, while an economy of under 4 gives an idea regarding his ability to choke out the opposition from one end.

The fact that the Indian team continues to leave out proven assets like Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja might also work in his favor as this certainly leaves a space for an additional spinning option (currently occupied by Axar Patel). Hence, if the 19 year-old can add a couple of variations into his arsenal, then we might very well see him sharing the dressing room with the big boys in future.

#2 Prithvi Shaw

The youngster rose to the expectations both as captain and batsman throughout the tournament

Being the captain of a team isn't everyone's cup of tea. The lofty expectations are sometimes hard to meet and this was the reason why quite a few cricket pundits feared for this calm and composed batting genius. It's not difficult to see why because if history is anything to go by, one can see how things have panned out for someone like a Virat Kohli and on the other side of spectrum, say Unmukt Chand.

Well, all those doubts were put to rest when Prithvi Shaw amassed 261 runs from six matches at an average of over 65. He was able to lead from the front with the bat and his expert bowling changes made sure that all the players from the opposite team were forced to bat in each game. With a batting technique that has drawn comparisons with one Sachin Tendulkar, one can safely bet that senior blue jersey is on the horizon for this talented opening batsman.

#1 Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill finished the tournament as India's highest run-scorer

Keeping aside the fact that Shubman Gill scored 372 runs from six matches at an average of 124 and a strike rate of over 110, it was the ease with which he defended and the grace with which he scored his boundaries that caught the attention of all the former big guns like Sourav Ganguly and Ian Bishop, just to name a few.

Being adjourned the "Player Of The Tournament" is an achievement in itself, but the fact that this award ceremony was a foregone conclusion tells you how much of an impact Shubman Gill has had. Nobody came close to his throne, and the scoring ability which was head and shoulders above the rest gives a clear indication that sooner rather than later, his name is going to be displayed on the TV screens alongside other mainstays of the Indian squad.