India A- 409/3 (90 Overs)

When an entire nation experienced peak excitement for a Mumbai Indians vs. Gujarat Titans Eliminator match of IPL 2025, Karun Nair was busy doing what he can do best—playing a three-digit innings against England Lions for India A team at The Spitfire Ground, Canterbury.

India is set to make a visit to England for a 5-match Test series after the conclusion of the ongoing Indian Premier League season under Subhman Gill's leadership. Before that, it is the time for some preparations. 

Dominance by England Lions at the beginning of Day 1

India A Skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran walked back to the hut after a leg before the wicket cheaply only for an individual 8 runs. His opening partner, Yashasvi Jaiswal, scored a promising 24 and departed when India A struggled with 51 after losing the opening pair. Eddie Jack and Josh Hull positioned England Lion in the driving seat before Karun Nair and Sarfaraz Khan stitched a 181-run partnership, facing 235 balls. 

Read More: Former Indian Cricketer Passes Away After Sudden Cardiac Arrest

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) opted to drop Khan from the main squad of team India for the upcoming Test series. The batter, who recently lost weight to gain more fitness and scored tons of runs in the domestic circuit, went out for India A to make a 92-run innings, missing a century only by 8 runs.

But Nair, so far, showed no signs of taking a halt. The middle-order batter, who has a triple Test century in his bag, remained unbeaten for 186 after day 1 of the unofficial Test. The momentum gained by England Lions at the start of the match gradually lost their grip when Sarfaraz and Nair rotated strikes without any major bump.

At the end of the day, India A at the commanding position

After the departure of Sarfaraz, Karun Nair paired up with Dhruv Jurel for another long-lasting partnership, which will continue on Day 2. After the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, BCCI selectors have to fill up the void left by the two icons. India has multiple options as openers, but very few contenders for the number 3 spot, the position mostly remembered for Kohli.

Square for the unofficial Test: 

India A (Playing XI): Abhimanyu Easwaran(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel(w), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Harsh Dubey, Anshul Kamboj, Harshit Rana, Mukesh Kumar.

England Lions (Playing XI): Tom Haines, Ben McKinney, Emilio Gay, Max Holden, James Rew(w/c), Dan Mousley, Rehan Ahmed, Zaman Akhter, Eddie Jack, Josh Hull, and Ajeet Dale.

On Saturday (May 24), the Men’s Selection Committee selected an 18-member Indian senior men’s Test squad for the upcoming England tour, where they will play a five-match Test series. Here, we are going through the unselected India XI for the England tour. 

India will start their 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship journey with the five-match Test series in England. Due to the recent retirement of Test captain Rohit Sharma and legendary cricketer Virat Kohli, along with legendary off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, India have some new Test faces along with special comebacks. 

India tour of England 2025: Key Indian squad facts

Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh are the new faces in Indian Test cricket, while Karun Nair and Shardul Thakur have returned to the Test squad. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill has been selected as the new Test captain, while Rishabh Pant is set to play his deputy role in the red-ball format.

India tour of England 2025: Top unselected Indian players

Meanwhile, we are missing some strong names in the Indian Test squad for the upcoming England tour. Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara are the two strong names who could take important responsibilities with their strong experiences, especially when we miss Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. 

Shreyas Iyer, who has played 14 Tests, is also an important name on the missing list. His last Test was the 2024 Visakhapatnam Test against England. 

See Also: IND vs ENG: Why Shreyas Iyer was not selected in India’s Test squad for England tour?

Two-Test experienced Ishan Kishan is another strong name to miss the England tour, along with Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is yet to make his Test debut. Sarfaraz Khan, who made his Test debut during the England tour of India 2024-25 season and has played six Tests, has been dropped from the Test squad.  

Anshul Kamboj is a special pace-bowling all-rounder, who was in the news in November 2024 after becoming the third Ranji Trophy bowler to record a 10-wicket haul in an innings. The 24-year-old has huge potential. Axar Patel, with 14-Test experience, is also missing from the Test squad.

Among the pacers, we are missing Khaleel Ahmed and Harshit Rana, along with the veteran Mohammed Shami, whose fitness is reportedly still a concern for Test cricket. Khaleel is yet to make his Test debut, while Harshit has played two Tests after making his debut during India's tour of Australia last season.  

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Sarfaraz Khan, Anshul Kamboj, Harshit Rana, and Khaleel Ahmed are set to travel to England earlier in the Test series as a part of the India A squad. So, any of them can join the Indian Test squad during the upcoming England tour. 

Unselected India XI vs England

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Shreyas Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Sarfaraz Khan, Axar Patel, Anshul Kamboj, Mohammed Shami, Harshit Rana, Khaleel Ahmed 

Team India will tour England next month for a 5-match Test series starting from 20th June. The team has already announced its 18-member squad for this tour. However, Sarfaraz Khan has not been included in the team. Many believed that Sarfaraz had a confirmed place in the Test squad, but the selectors did not approve his name.

Sarfaraz Khan was part of India’s squad during last year’s Australia tour, but despite his good form, he did not get a chance in the playing eleven. Now, for the upcoming England tour starting from 20th June, he has been dropped from the 18-member squad. This came as a surprise to many, as it was believed that his spot in the Test team was almost confirmed.

Instead of Sarfaraz, selectors picked Karun Nair. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar mentioned that the decision was taken by the team management and admitted that such choices often feel unfair. Karun Nair, currently with Delhi Capitals in IPL, played one good innings against Mumbai but didn’t have consistent performances in the rest of the tournament.

Also Read -IND vs ENG: 3 players who deserved a spot in Team India’s Test squad for England tour

Meanwhile, Sarfaraz, who was not part of this IPL season, focused on improving his fitness and lost 10 kg weight. He has also been performing well in domestic cricket and is part of the India A squad. However, he was not included in the main Test team.

Shubman Gill-led #TeamIndia are READY for an action-packed Test series 💪

A look at the squad for India Men’s Tour of England 🙌#ENGvIND | @ShubmanGill pic.twitter.com/y2cnQoWIpq

— BCCI (@BCCI) May 24, 2025

During the Australia tour, the Indian team won only one match. That tour also remained in the news due to dressing room controversies. Sarfaraz Khan was reportedly linked to leaking details from the dressing room. Although the Indian Cricket Board never confirmed it, many believe this incident might have played a role in his non-selection.

So far, Sarfaraz Khan has played 6 Test matches, scoring 1 century and 3 half-centuries, with a highest score of 150. In first-class cricket, he has an impressive average of over 65, scoring 4593 runs in 54 matches, including 16 centuries and 14 half-centuries.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar said that Jasprit Bumrah might not play all five Test matches on the England tour, which starts on June 20. Bumrah had recently led the Indian team when Rohit Sharma was not available, but this time, he has not been named captain. Instead, Shubman Gill will lead the side, with Rishabh Pant as the vice-captain.

Agarkar explained that the main reason behind this decision is to manage Bumrah’s workload. Since Bumrah has had injury issues in the past, the team doesn’t want to take any risks by making him play every game. To give the team more options, left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh has been added to the squad.

“Arshdeep is a quality bowler. He’s played county cricket, does well in domestic matches, and can swing the new ball. He’s tall and has done well in red-ball cricket over the last few years. Since Bumrah may not play all the matches, we wanted a bit of variety in the attack,” Agarkar said during the press conference.

ALSO READ: ENG vs IND: 5 Indian players to watch out for england series

Agarkar also spoke about why Karun Nair was picked over Sarfaraz Khan. Even though Sarfaraz scored a century in his debut Test, he hasn’t performed well since then. With Virat Kohli missing the tour, the team needed someone experienced in the middle order. Karun has been in good form recently and has played Test and county cricket as well.

“Sometimes, you have to make tough choices. Sarfaraz got a hundred in his first Test, but didn’t score much after that. Karun has scored a lot of runs in domestic cricket and has experience. With Virat not in the squad, we felt Karun’s experience would be helpful,” Agarkar explained.

The skipper and talismanic batter of the Punjab Kings (PBKS), Shreyas Iyer found himself in a very precarious situation. Much to the scare of the team's fans, their leader suffered a nasty blow to the index finger of his hand during a practice session one day before the match. He was seen chatting to the head coach, Ricky Ponting, about it and looked in disbelief. He, however, didn't pull out, and as captains are, gritty and dogged, he went along with it. The ice pack and magic spray came to his rescue for the time being, and only he knew for how long. 

Iyer usually bats one down in the order, but came further down. He could be seen struggling with donning his gloves, and eventually came in the middle at the fall of the third wicket of his team. He faced difficulties in timing the ball and was more often than not in a tentative state while batting in his brief and slow innings of 30 runs in 25 balls. His injured finger made him bat unlike his intrinsic self, and it was a worrying sign for everyone in the dugout and all of Punjab's faithful. 

In the second innings, the explosive batter didn't take the field. He was instead substituted, and Shashank Singh, the finisher, was handed over the captaincy duties. The stand-in captain was helped by Ricky Ponting and Shreyas too from the dugout. Punjab, in the end, managed a victory by 10 runs, and a favourable result in the match, scheduled later in the day, confirmed their playoff spot. 

🚨 A BIG SALUTE TO SHREYAS IYER 🚨

- Shreyas Iyer injured his index finger while training yesterday, he was in pain but played the important game for Punjab Kings. [Sahil Malhotra from TOI] pic.twitter.com/YHbskGnIbH

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 18, 2025

Shreyas Iyer is giving regular inputs to the players from boundary rope 👌

- Injured but giving everything for his team. pic.twitter.com/XQjI7KhmBt

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 18, 2025

See Also: IPL 2025: Why was Shreyas Iyer substituted in match between RR vs PBKS?

Shreyas has been in impeccable form this season, both with the bat and while leading the team. His bowling and fielding changes have been immaculate, and that has fetched the team immense success this season. He is also their second-highest run scorer after Prabhsimran Singh, and his impactful knocks have dealt an irreplaceable punch to the opposition. In an unfortunate scenario, if his finger is unable to heal in time for the rest of the matches in the season, PBKS will have a tough time in his absence and might have to rope in strong replacements.

While Shreyas Iyer is by far an irreplaceable asset for the Punjab Kings, here's a look at a few players who can potentially fill in his shoes for the remainder of the season -

Sarfaraz Khan

India's relatively newer test entrant was unlucky to miss out in the auction. He went unsold at a base price of Rs 50 lakhs, while his brother Musheer bagged a deal with PBKS. He has not had great IPL returns over the years, but his recent exploits with the Indian test team might bring about a change in his attitude and produce the explosive best out of him, if recruited by the Punjab franchise. It is also the time to reward him for his stringent fitness regime that he has been on, off-season.

Anmolpreet Singh

Prabhsimran Singh's cousin went unsold in the auction at a base price of 30 lakhs. Just a few weeks after that, he smashed the quickest List A hundred by an Indian, in 35 balls, and guided Punjab to a comprehensive victory over Arunachal Pradesh in a Vijay Hazare match. Previously, he has been a part of the Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad, but without much impact and a low average. 

KS Bharat

Once in and out of the Indian test team, but still featuring in the World Test Championship final 2023, and now completely off the cards, Bharat can be a decent backup. Bharat, however, has not had many good moments in his IPL career and went unsold this time. His experience is a guarantee, and he has previously represented the Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, and Kolkata Knight Riders. If brought in, he can play an anchor as well as an explosive innings. 

In a stunning twist, Virat Kohli, on Monday, May 12, through an emotional Instagram message, said he was retiring from Test cricket. The cricket world was stunned as the 36-year-old walked away from the red-ball game just five weeks ahead of India's five-match Test tour of England. This tour also kick-starts the 2025–2027 ICC World Test Championship cycle.

Kohli, the most successful Test batter of his era, ends his Test career with more than 8,700 runs, 29 centuries, and a legacy that raised Indian cricket to the global stage. While India gets ready to live without their beloved No. 4 batter, the question is how to find someone who can replace the huge chasm in the middle order—particularly when challenging away tours are looming.
Some of the names have been on the selectors' radars, yet few are potential and long-term successors.

Also read: WATCH: Indian Army DGMO shares his views on Virat Kohli retirement

Contenders to Replace Kohli in Test Cricket

Sarfaraz Khan

Sarfaraz Khan has been India's most reliable red-ball performer in domestic cricket. After waiting for a long time, he finally made his Test debut against England in early 2024 and registered his first century later in the year against New Zealand. The 27-year-old possesses the temperament and shot selection appropriate for the No. 4 position, and his insatiable appetite for runs makes him a top contender.

KL Rahul

The seasoned KL Rahul has played all formats and positions. With Kohli out, Rahul's versatility and unflappable demeanor in the crease render him a natural choice for the middle order. Not only does he bring experience but also the resource to anchor or quicken according to the situation, something India will desperately require in England.

Rajat Patidar

Rajat Patidar, who impressed of late in India A games and the Ranji league, is another name being considered. At 31 years of age, he is technically gifted, accustomed to playing against quality bowling attacks, and proved he could also deliver under duress—things needed to flourish in long form.

No one can actually substitute Kohli, but India must now construct the next generation using new shoulders capable of shouldering the burden.

For Indian cricket fans, it will be tough to see the number 3 position without Virat Kohli. According to media reports, the talismanic batter has informed BCCI about his desire to leave Test cricket after retiring from T20Is. Though there are no official announcements regarding this. Keeping his age in mind, nearing 37, BCCI selectors perhaps already are in search of a suitable replacement for the right-hander. In Test cricket, Virat solidifies his legacy mainly as the number 3 batter. So, the board selectors will have to pick someone who can hold one end of the innings after one down. There are several players with healthy batting stats who can be considered as candidates once Virat formally announces his retirement from Test cricket.

Top 5 potential batters in place of Virat Kohli:

Karun Nair

The first name to pop up in the 5-man list is Karun Nair, who over the years improved his batting to another level. The top-order batter who owned a triple century in Test cricket is eagerly awaiting another shot to represent his country. After scoring a bag full of centuries in the domestic circuit, Nair marked his IPL return for Delhi Capitals with an 89-run innings against Mumbai India. The batter who achieveded 23 first-class centuries and 36 fifties with a batting average of 552.39 definitely proved himself a contender in the Test squad.

Shreyas Iyer

The improvised version of Shreyas Iyer can be a good fit in the Test batting lineup. He transformed himself into a more focused cricketer than before after the BCCI decided to drop his name from the central contract. From being considered ineligible to receive the central agreement to a return in the Blue, Iyer proved his mettle. Leader, batter, and a team man—in all three terms, his capabilities are above all doubts. Shreyas played his last Test for India in early February against England in a home series where he scored a decent amount of runs.

Rajat Patidar

Despite having a truckful of runs, Patidar’s List A cricket career is comparatively less discussed. The right-handed batter has a List A batting average of 37.47 after playing 64 innings and a 43.07 batting average against 6 first-class matches. Patidar, who previously represented India in 3 Tests, can look for a spot in the squad again after a promising run in IPL 2025 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain. Batter Iyer, hailing from Madhya Pradesh, has scored 239 runs so far in IPL 2025. 

Read More: 5 players who can replace Rohit Sharma in Test cricket

Ajinkya Rahane

Skills permanent—this line is perfectly fit for Rahane. Near T7, the right-handed batter who represented India in so many matches across all three formats is still dreaming about playing for his country. When Kolkata Knight Riders roped in the veteran batter in place of Shreyash Iyer, a part of cricket fans was expressing their doubts over him. But when someone soaks in the basics of the game completely, then the player can play anytime, anywhere. IPL 2025, so far he has made 375 runs with a batting average of 37.50. 

Sarfaraz Khan

Khan almost broke all barricades to enter into the Test squad with the help of his supreme performances in the domestic circuit. His impressive batting continues for the Test salso; also scored 150 against New Zealand in Bengaluru last year and a couple of half centuries against England in Rajkot as well. The right-handed batter must be in the selector's head in the upcoming days.  

As the T20 Mumbai League 2025 Auction played out amidst intense bidding and drama, the anticipation of one of Mumbai's most prestigious domestic cricket events was palpable. The franchises were aggressive in their pursuit to acquire the best cricketing talents in Mumbai; therefore, many of the young, emerging stars cost a pretty penny.

Auction Highlights and Top Bids

The auction was a testament to the wealth of Mumbai cricket talent, with franchises competing to acquire both proven names and young prospects. The day's biggest acquisition was Atharva Ankolekar, who went for ₹16.25 lakh to Eagle Thane Strikers, a confirmation of his increasing reputation as an all-rounder with utility value. Hot on his heels were Musheer Khan and Sairaj Patil, both signed up for ₹15 lakh by ARCS Andheri and Eagle Thane Strikers, respectively, underlining the value placed on young, dynamic players.

The other big purchases were Ayush Mhatre (₹14.75 lakh, Triumph Knights Mumbai North East), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (₹14 lakh, SoBo Mumbai Falcons), and Shams Mulani (₹14 lakh, Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs), all of whom have already caused ripples in domestic and IPL circuits. The bidding duels highlighted the franchises' intention to mix experience with youth to build competitive teams.

Also Read: Shocking Update: Will IPL 2025 be cancelled due to Operation Sindhoor?

Team-wise Player Breakdown

Triumph Knights Mumbai Northeast

• Icon Player: Suryakumar Yadav (₹20 lakh)
• Top Buys: Ayush Mhatre (₹14.75 lakh), Suryansh Shedge (₹13.75 lakh)
• Other Notables: Sidhaant Aadhhathrao (₹7.75 lakh), Parikshit Valsangkar (₹7.25 lakh), Jay Jain (₹4 lakh)

Bandra Blasters

• Icon Player: Ajinkya Rahane (₹20 lakh)
• Top Buys: Suved Parkar (₹8.50 lakh), Akash Anand (₹8.25 lakh)
• Other Picks: Royston Dias, Karsh Kothari, Dhanit Raut
  

North Mumbai Panthers

• Icon Player: Prithvi Shaw (₹20 lakh)
  
• Top Buys: Mohit Avasthi (₹10.50 lakh), Tanush Kotian (₹10 lakh)
  
• Talented Additions: Divyansh Saxena, Khizar Dafedar, Harshal Jadhav
  

SoBo Mumbai Falcons

• Icon Player: Shreyas Iyer (₹20 lakh)
  
• Top Buys: Angkrish Raghuvanshi (₹14 lakh), Siddharth Raut (₹7 lakh)
  
• Supporting Cast: Vinayak Bhoir, Harsh Aghav, Kush Kariya
  

ARCS Andheri

• Icon Player: Shivam Dube (₹20 lakh)
  
• Top Buys: Musheer Khan (₹15 lakh), Prasad Pawar (₹13 lakh)
  
• Other Signings: Himanshu Singh, Akhil Herwadkar, Siddid Tiwari
  

Eagle Thane Strikers

• Icon Player: Shardul Thakur (₹20 lakh)
  
• Top Buys: Atharva Ankolekar (₹16.25 lakh), Sairaj Patil (₹15 lakh)
  
• Emerging Talents: Shashank Attarde, Harsh Tanna, Varun Lavande
  

Also Read: IPL 2025: PBKS vs DC Match 58 - A Head to Head breakdown

Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs

• Icon Player: Sarfaraz Khan (₹20 lakh)
• Top Buys: Shams Mulani (₹14 lakh), Jay Bista (₹12 lakh)
  
• Strong Lineup: Hardik Tamore, Ayaz Ahmed, Siddharth Akre
  

Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals

• Icon Player: Tushar Deshpande (₹20 lakh)
  
• Top Buys: Siddhesh Lad (₹10.25 lakh), Aditya Dhumal (₹7.25 lakh)
  
• Promising Selections: Sachin Yadav, Khan Awais Naushad, Rohan Ghag
  

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has long been a launchpad for young talent, offering rising stars a chance to prove themselves on a global platform. Players like Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja once used this prestigious T20 league to make their mark, delivering fearless performances that turned them into household names. The league's fast-paced and high-stakes nature has consistently brought out the best in emerging cricketers.

This year, we turn the spotlight on the five youngest players to debut or sign IPL contracts as of 2024, including one history-making prodigy in 2025. These youngsters have impressed with their fearless approach, dynamic shot-making, and solid stats, signaling a bright future. Their inclusion in the IPL highlights the league's vital role in nurturing the next generation of cricketing superstars.

1. Vaibhav Suryavanshi

At just 13 years and 243 days old, Vaibhav Suryavanshi made history as the youngest player ever to be contracted by an IPL franchise, signing with the Rajasthan Royals for INR 1.1 crore during the 2025 IPL Auction. Hailing from Bihar, Vaibhav had already made headlines in domestic cricket, debuting in first-class matches at the remarkable age of 12 years and 284 days. He scored 100 runs in five Ranji Trophy games (highest score: 41, average: 10.00) and tallied 132 runs in six List A matches, including an impressive 71 off 42 balls in the 2024 Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Vaibhav also made waves on the international youth stage, smashing a 58-ball 104 for India U-19 against Australia U-19 in 2024—the fastest Test century ever by an Indian youth cricketer. His power-hitting abilities were further underlined during trial sessions with the Rajasthan Royals, where he struck three towering sixes, convincing the coaching staff of his high potential and readiness for the big stage despite his young age.

2. Prayas Ray Barman

Prayas Ray Barman made his IPL debut for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2019 at just 16 years and 157 days, after being signed for INR 1.5 crore. In his sole appearance, the West Bengal all-rounder scored 19 runs (average: 19.00, strike rate: 73.07) and went wicketless, conceding 56 runs at an economy of 14.00. While his debut was brief, it reflected the IPL's willingness to back young talent. Since then, Barman has turned his focus to domestic cricket in hopes of making a strong comeback.

Also Read: [WATCH] Ashutosh Sharma and Ishant Sharma get into verbal spat: Know the reason

3. Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman made his IPL debut for Kings XI Punjab in 2018 at just 17 years and 11 days old, becoming one of the youngest players to feature in the league. Signed for INR 4 crore, the mystery spinner impressed early on, claiming 19 wickets in 19 matches at an average of 29.47 and an economy of 7.92. His standout performance came against Delhi Capitals in 2018, where he took 3/27. Though his IPL appearances have reduced in recent seasons, Mujeeb's early success cemented his reputation as one of the most promising T20 spinners of his generation.

4. Riyan Parag

Riyan Parag made his Indian Premier League debut for Rajasthan Royals in 2019 at the age of 17 years and 152 days, after being signed for INR 20 lakh. Since then, he has become a key figure in the Royals' setup, featuring in 69 matches and amassing 1,316 runs at an average of 24.83 and a strike rate of 135.11. His highest score remains an unbeaten 84, and he has registered seven fifties in the tournament. As a part-time bowler, he has also taken 7 wickets, with best figures of 3/32. Parag’s standout season came in 2024, when he scored 573 runs, finishing as the third-highest run-getter of the tournament. Notably, he holds the record for the most runs scored in an IPL match by a player aged 17 years and 175 days. Riyan has proven his versatility as a dependable all-rounder and continues to grow as a key talent in the IPL.

Also Read: IPL 2025: PBKS vs RCB Match 37 - A Head to Head breakdown

5. Sarfaraz Khan

Sarfaraz Khan made his Indian Premier League debut for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2015 at just 17 years and 177 days old, after being signed for INR 50 lakhs. Over the course of 50 IPL matches, he accumulated 585 runs at an average of 22.50 and a strike rate of 130.00. His highest score in the league stands at 67, which came off just 34 balls in a 2016 match, showcasing his flair and aggressive batting style. Even before stepping onto the IPL stage, Sarfaraz had already made headlines by becoming the youngest player to break the Harris Shield record at age 12. His steady rise through domestic cricket culminated in a well-deserved Test debut for India in 2024, underlining his long-standing potential and batting prowess.

Whether it’s the record-breaking entry of Vaibhav Suryavanshi as the youngest IPL signing or the impressive journeys of players like Sarfaraz, the IPL continues to serve as a springboard for young Indian talent. The league has played a vital role in nurturing future international stars and turning promising teenagers into household names on the global cricket stage.

Now that the 2025 season of IPL is in full swing, aspiring cricketers and fans are able to see their favourite players up close, since players had a chance to interact and engage with the public. One engagement saw veteran New Zealand cricketer Kane Williamson coaching the young Indian batting sensation, Sarfaraz Khan, in Mumbai, where both encouraged emerging young cricketers.
Williamson’s Guidance To Youngsters

One of the most talented batsmen of modern times Kane Williamson, known for his calm demeanour, is currently participating in IPL and recently tried to assist with mobile coaching on the streets of Mumbai. Specifically, the New Zealand captain provided some guidance on footwork, temperament and batting technique.

The entire audience were all ears during the training session, which immensely improved their skills, and thus it was surely the case where it was met with a lot of appreciation.

𝐊𝐈𝐖𝐈'𝐬 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝐌𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐀𝐈! 👀

From international pitches to Mumbai’s streets, #KaneWilliamson trains the next-gen cricketers! 🤩 𝘼 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙖𝙣𝙨 & 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙧! ⭐#IPLonJioStar 👉 #KKRvSRH |… pic.twitter.com/tT7pu41pZf

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 3, 2025

Also Read: Mumbai Indians Playing 11 vs Lucknow Super Giants IPL 2025 Match 16

Sarfaraz Khan's Local Connect

The above session with experts was also attended by upcoming Indian cricketer Sarfaraz Khan, who is another product of Mumbai. Sarfaraz's aggressive batting style blended with his ability to connect with the local talent made him a great hit. Having started off in the domestic circuit and now sharing his experience with IPL, Khan told students how important it is to remain focused and disciplined and never give up on dreams.

A Star Sports Initiative

Star Sports created a unique opportunity during the IPL 2025, exciting cricketing legends Kane Williamson and Sarfaraz Khan with a close encounter with their young fans! Together, they conducted a surprise training session in Mumbai, helping to motivate and mentor loyal fans with aspirations to become cricketers.

Also Read: LSG vs MI IPL 2025: 3 key players to watch

Social media was filled with positive comments praising them for their commitment to cricket and community. This initiative demonstrated the essence of the IPL joy, learning, and play for everyone's enjoyment, while providing a memorable experience for the young participants.