5 Indian cricketers with a huge gap between U19 WC and international debut

Hanuma Vihari (2012 – 2018)

Hanuma Vihari boasts of one of the best first-class averages among active cricketers in the world at the moment. With almost 6000 runs in red-ball cricket, Vihari has an average of 59.23 which is one of the 11th best of all time. However, this success hasn’t come easy for Andhra Pradesh lad.

It was in 2012 when he played the Under 19 World Cup. India won that edition under Unmukt Chand. However, Vihari wasn’t really noted as he returned with paltry 71 runs from six innings. Moreover, he didn’t bowl as well. However, he went back to domestic cricket and scored a lot of runs and got them consistently. He translated that to the India ‘A’ level as well.

Vihari finally got his chance in the last Test against England at the Oval last year. He impressed on debut and has played three more Tests since then. In fact, Vihari also opened the batting in the Boxing Day Test last year. But he is one of the incumbent Indian middle-order batsmen and will be looking to seal a permanent spot in the middle order.