Best U25 ODI XI for India

Middle Order:

Consistent domestic performances rewarded Shreyas with a place in Indian team

Shreyas Iyer (Age 23 years)

Shreyas Iyer has been a consistent performer in the domestic circuit since his First Class debut in 2014-15. He was the biggest contributor in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy triumph in 2015-16 season amassing a whopping 1321 runs. Representing India A, Shreyas played a match winning knock of 140 not out in the final of the “A” tri-series in South Africa and was also impressive against New Zealand A. He was thus rewarded with a place in the Indian limited-overs squads where he displayed his talent with a couple of fifties against Sri Lanka. Shreyas has played some aggressive knocks in the IPL and also won the “Emerging Player of the Year” award in 2015 season.

Rishabh Pant (Wicket Keeper) (Age 20 years)

Rishabh Pant came into limelight during the Under-19 World Cup in 2016 smashing the fastest half-century of the tournament. He has played some attacking knocks in the two IPL seasons and also displayed his skills in the longer format amassing 972 runs in the Ranji Trophy season of 2016-17, which included a triple century against Maharashtra. He got an opportunity to represent India in T20I format, but, could not perform well enough to secure a place in the middle order. Pant had a poor Ranji Trophy season in 2017-18 which pushed him back in the queue but he came back strongly with a stellar show in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy slamming second-fastest T20 ton in 32 balls, just behind Chris Gayle’s record hundred in 30 deliveries. He continued his form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy that followed and made a comeback to the Indian team for the Nidahas Trophy.

Deepak Hooda (Captain) (Age 22 years)

Deepak Hooda came into prominence for his ability to hit big sixes during the IPL in 2015 while playing for Rajasthan Royals. He has been a consistent performer for Baroda in the domestic circuit averaging 50.18 in First Class cricket and 42.70 in List A format. He had a great season amassing 277 runs in four matches in the Ranji Trophy while also scoring 352 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in seven games. In addition to his batting, the ability to bowl decent off-spin makes him a contender for the middle order slot in the Indian ODI squad. He has been on the selectors’ radar recently having being included in the Indian squad for the T20Is against Sri Lanka in December and also the Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka.