From rising batters to promising bowlers, here are the top five youngsters to follow in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26.
The Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025-26 begins on December 24 with several top domestic sides facing each other. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it mandatory for all India players to participate in at least two rounds of the List-A event.
Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli headline Delhi’s 20-member squad for the opening two games of VHT 2025-26. For Mumbai, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shivam Dube will also participate, along with KL Rahul for Karnataka.
Nevertheless, the youngsters will view this as a valuable opportunity to learn from the senior players and further develop their skills. All the players listed below are under the age of 25 and have long careers ahead of them at the domestic level, with and potentially to progress to the national side in the future.
Read More: Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 will be a star-studded affair; A look at international stars in the fray
Let’s take a look at the top 5 youngsters to watch out for in VHT 2025-26
Anshul Kamboj (Haryana)
Haryana’s Anshul Kamboj recently tasted international success when he played for India during the fourth Test against England in Manchester. But the right-arm pacer struggled with his line and length and ended with just one wicket in 18 overs. The England batters belted the 25-year-old left, right, and centre for an economy rate of nearly five. That makes this VHT 2025-26 crucial for him to get his mojo back.
Kamboj has overall bagged 40 wickets in 25 innings in List-A cricket. He averages 20.20 at a strike rate of 29.2 with an economy rate of 4.14, thanks to three four-wicket hauls.
In the previous season of the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT), Kamboj bagged 17 wickets to end as the joint third-highest wicket-taker of the tournament. He enjoyed a great average of 22.05 at an economy rate of 4.56 and will aim to regain the same form.
Read More: Top 5 emerging fast bowlers in India’s domestic circuit
Ravichandran Smaran (Karnataka)
The Vijay Hazare Tournament 2024-25 was a breakthrough season for Karnataka’s Ravichandran Smaran. The left-handed batter notched up 433 runs in just seven innings of the domestic 50-over event at an average of 72.16. He also maintained a fine strike rate of 100.33, thanks to his two half-centuries and as many centuries.
Smaran, at the age of just 22, has already earned enormous success in first-class cricket and T20s. Even though he is yet to debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) may give him the chance next season. For that, he will look to continue the same dominance from the last Vijay Hazare Tournament.
Read More: Top 5 emerging batters in Ranji Trophy
Nishant Sindhu (Haryana)
Haryana have got some young talents for the new season of VHT, and left-arm spin all-rounder Nishant Sindhu is another such player. At the age of just 21, the Southpaw has recorded 808 runs in 33 innings of List-A cricket at an average of 27.86. Sindhu has a decent strike rate of 85.14 for his four fifties. With the ball, he has 51 wickets at an average of 25.62.
Sindhu, who spent two IPL seasons with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) before being shifted to the Gujarat Titans (GT), won the U-19 World Cup 2022. In the previous season of the Vijay Hazare Tournament, the Rohtak-born registered 323 runs at a strike rate of 92.02 with the help of two half-centuries. Even with the ball, he picked up 14 wickets at an average of 27.57.
Read More: Ranji Trophy: Top 5 bowling all-rounders to watch out for in domestic circuit
Kumar Kushagra (Jharkhand)
Ahead of IPL 2025, Delhi Capitals (DC) secured the services of Kumar Kushagra for a sum of INR 7.2 crore. But he could manage only three runs from as many innings. Kushagra, at the age of 21, has already featured in 26 innings of List-A cricket. The wicket-keeper batter has nailed 908 runs at an average of 47.78 and a strike rate of 93.51.
In the previous edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Kushagra collected 208 runs from seven innings at an impressive average of 52, striking at 112.43 and registering one half-century. He followed it up with a standout campaign in the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy (SMAT) 2025-26, finishing as the third-highest run-scorer with 422 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 161.68.
If he can continue the same process with the bat and the gloves, that will be a massive advantage for both Jharkhand and India in the future.
Read More: Jharkhand win their first ever SMA Trophy; Who were the major contributors in their victory
Sushant Mishra (Jharkhand)
Sushant Mishra finished the recent SMAT 2025-26 as the leading wicket-taker with 22 scalps. He averaged 17.18 at an economy rate of 8.92 in 11 innings. Sushant will be keen to carry this form into the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy, especially after spending the last two years away from the domestic 50-over circuit.
The 25-year-old has also been part of three IPL franchises – Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Gujarat Titans (GT), and Rajasthan Royals (RR). Across 10 List-A innings, he has claimed 15 wickets at an average of 30.80.
With India having long searched for a reliable left-arm pacer, the onus will now be on Sushant Mishra to seize the opportunity and stake a strong claim for higher honours.
Read More: SMAT 2025-26: Anukul Roy, the fuel behind Jharkhand’s fiery run to the final
