The sport constantly needs fresh faces. It needs players who bring that fantastic energy into the game. Every year cricket throws up new potential stars. The year 2021 was no different. It had its fair share of debutants. Owing to the pandemic, the number of players who made their debuts increased significantly. There were a few of them who took to the international stage beautifully.
We look at 5 such wonderful debutants [2021]:
#5 Jayden Seales (WI)
Jayden Seales was named as a developmental player for the first Test against Sri Lanka. Seales went on to deliver a sizzling performance in his debut series. He is the youngest Windies player to take a fifer in Test cricket. In four Test matches to date, Jayden has picked up 16 wickets at a bowling average of 21.31. The Windies will have high hopes from this young talent.
#4 Ishan Kishan (IND)
Ishan Kishan made his debut in the T20I series against England. England had set a tricky target of 165 in the 2nd T20I. Kishan walked in early as India lost KL Rahul’s wicket early. He then went on to put quite a show.
Kishan smashed a quickfire half-century to help India win the game. He then continued his dream run in his ODI Debut. Kishan smoked the first ball he faced for a six. He registered a half-century on ODI Debut too. Kishan is surely one for the future.
#3 Charith Asalanka (SL)
Charith Asalanka was Sri Lanka’s standout batsman in the T20 World Cup 2021. He singlehandedly won them a close game against Bangladesh. His T20I numbers are quite impressive. He has 295 runs in 9 T20Is. Asalanka has played eight ODIs up until now. He has amassed 326 runs with 3 fifties already. Asalanka certainly looks one for the future.
#2 Ollie Robinson (Eng)
Ollie Robinson made a brilliant start to his Test career. He was sensational against New Zealand in the home series. Robinson braved up past allegations to make a smashing comeback. He was easily England’s best bowler in the Test series against India. Robinson kept running in hard ball-after-ball. He has carried on his good form in the Ashes too. England certainly have found someone on whom they can count on.
#1 Suryakumar Yadav (IND)
Suryakumar Yadav was undoubtedly the best performing debutant of the year. His induction into international cricket was much awaited. It was just a matter of time before he broke onto the international scene. Yadav made his debut in the T20I format against England.
He smashed a stylish fifty on debut smoking Jofra Archer for a six-first ball. Yadav followed it up with an impactful 30 in the next game. He was the player of the series in his debut ODI series. Yadav was class apart in the 3-match ODI series against Sri Lanka.
