Top Indian Players who excelled in U19 cricket and became IPL captains

Mumbai Indians. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

The Indian team started their U19 World Cup 2024 campaign on a winning note and it brings back memories of some of the most successful batters who shined in the U19 event. There have been multiple cricketers who have gone on to have a successful career for India’s senior teams.

The U19 World Cup performance also paves the way for the Indian youngsters to showcase their talent in front of IPL scouts and get picked by franchises in the Indian Premier League. There have been several cricketers who were picked in the IPL on the back of their performance in U19 cricket and even went on to captain their IPL sides.

Here are the Indian cricketers who shined in u19 and became IPL captains:

6. Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

While he has yet to play an IPL match as captain, Shubman Gill will lead the Gujarat Titans in the upcoming IPL 2024. Shubman Gill will replace the talent Hardik Pandya as GT skipper after the all-rounder was traded to Mumbai Indians in an all-cash deal. This will be the first time Shubman Gill will captain an IPL franchise.

Gill made his IPL debut in 2018 for Kolkata Knight Riders after a brilliant performance in the U19 World Cup that year in New Zealand. He scored 372 runs in 6 matches with one century. He spent two years with KKR before GT grabbed him before the IPL 2022 auction and he had an excellent IPL 2023 with 890 runs with 3 centuries to his name.

5. Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Veteran India opener Shikhar Dhawan was the highest run-getter in the 2004 U19 World Cup. He made 505 runs at an average of 84.16, with three centuries and a fifty, and was named Player of the Tournament. He also starred in the U19 Tests against England the same year. Dhawan made his IPL debut in 2008 for Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) before making his India debut.

He made his India ODI debut in 2010 and Test debut in 2013, celebrating it with a century against Australia. Dhawan first became a captain of an IPL franchise in 2013 when he captained Sunrisers Hyderabad. He then captained Delhi Capitals in the interim for a couple of matches and since IPL 2023, is leading Punjab Kings.

4. Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Yuvraj Singh won the 2000 U19 World Cup for India under the captaincy of Mohammad Kaif. Yuvraj’s all-round performance earned him the Player of the Tournament award and a call-up to the national squad. He made his debut against Kenya but made his mark against Australia in the tournament’s quarter-final. 

When the IPL 2008 came by, its owners named him the icon player of the then Kings XI Punjab franchise. He was also named captain of the side and led the team in the first two seasons. He was then picked by Pune Warriors and named captain of the side as well. Yuvraj Singh retired from cricket in 2019.

 

3. Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Rishabh Pant was the vice-captain of the Indian U19 team which lost in the final of the U19 World Cup in 2016 in Bangladesh. Ishan Kishan was the captain of the side and both players found buyers in the IPL 2016 auction. Ishan Kishan went to the new franchise Gujarat Lions, and Rishabh Pant was bought by his home franchise Delhi Capitals. 

He made his India debut in T20Is in 2017 as well but only cemented his place after MS Dhoni’s retirement in 2019. He roared to stardom when he smashed 128* for DC against SRH in IPL 2018. In 2021, Rishabh Pant was named captain of the Delhi side in the absence of Shreyas Iyer and since then has continued to lead the franchise.

2. Virat Kohli

RCB Team. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

Considered one of the greatest batters of all time, Virat Kohli was considered to be a prodigy right from his U19 days. He captained the Indian U19 team to World Cup glory in 2008 and was picked by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the draft the same year for IPL 2008. Kohli has since been with the franchise. 

He made his India debut in 2008 as well and went on to captain the national side from 2015 to 2021. He was named the captain of the RCB team in IPL 2013 when Daniel Vettori retired from the game. He took RCB to the final in 2016 before relinquishing the captaincy after IPL 2021. He continues to be with the RCB team till now and even captained the team in a couple of matches in IPL 2023.

1. Rohit Sharma

Mumbai Indians. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Rohit Sharma was part of the Indian team that lost the final of the U19 World Cup 2006 to Pakistan in Colombo. He made 205 runs in 6 matches with 4 fifties to his name. Gradually he made his India debut in 2007 and was part of the T20 World Cup-winning India side in South Africa that year. 

In the IPL 2008 auction, Rohit was bought by Deccan Chargers and won the IPL 2009 with them. In IPL 2010, Rohit was bought by Mumbai Indians where he flourished as a batter. Mid-way through the IPL 2013, Rohit replaced Ricky Ponting as MI captain and won the franchise their maiden IPL title. Since then Rohit won the IPL in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020 before Hardik Pandya replaced him as captain ahead of IPL 2024.