Best young (Under-25) batsman from Asia?

[Muhammad10]

Some good upcoming talent in the shape of Babar Azam, KL Rahul, Soumya Sarkar and Kusal Mendis.

Who do you rate the highest out of the aforementioned quartet? If you choose "other" then specify who and why.

 

[Rayyman]

KL Rahul

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Babar has the most potential.

 

[Ellipsism]

KL Rahul.

Looking a class apart from all the Indian batsman.

 

[Syed1]

Quinton de Kock!!!!!

 

[Muhammad10]

Quinton de Kock!!!!!

That's some interesting alt-geography you got there, my friend.

 

[Syed1]

That's some interesting alt-geography you got there, my friend.

Oh I missed the Asia part..

 

[Citizen4]

Babar Azam, overall will be better than all of the others in the list

 

[Citizen4]

you should have waited a few weeks more, then Rahul wouldn't have been a part of this list because he's turning 25.

kl Rahul 24 years 334 days
Sarkar 24 years 21 days
Babar 22 years 154 days
Mendis 22 years 44 days

 

[last_knight]

Probably Mosaddek. In 12 months time.

 

[Citizen4]

Probably Mosaddek. In 12 months time.

after 12 months, we'd be talking about some other new guys, stick to these 4 now

 

[Hasan123]

KL Rahul

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

Rashid Khan

Need to see him against test teams, because the associates can't play him.

 

[Rayyman]

Rashid Khan

Need to see him against test teams, because the associates can't play him.

Mosaddek Hossain and Hussain Talat are both better.

 

[Mamoon]

KL Rahul and it is not debatable. Babar comes next and then Mendis.

 

[Rayyman]

Babar= Mendis
Babar > Mendis in LOIs
Mendis > Babar in Tests

 

[Sachin136]

Rahul and Mendis.

 

[Ellipsism]

Rahul and Mendis.

Mendis ahead of Babar?

 

[Ellipsism]

Rashid Khan

Need to see him against test teams, because the associates can't play him.

Last time I looked at the title it said batsman.

 

[Rayyman]

Mendis ahead of Babar?

At least in Tests, no doubt.

 

[Sachin136]

Mendis ahead of Babar?

I haven't seen a better innings than his 176 in a couple of years.

 

[Ellipsism]

I haven't seen a better innings than his 176 in a couple of years.

I haven't seen anyone play a better ODI innings than Stoinis.

Does that mean he's the best batsman in Australia? Heck no, he's trash.

 

[Ellipsism]

At least in Tests, no doubt.

Kusal failed overseas so did Babar, you've got to apply the same parameter your using to play down Babar to Kusal as well.

 

[Sachin136]

I haven't seen anyone play a better ODI innings than Stoinis.

Does that mean he's the best batsman in Australia? Heck no, he's trash.

But Babar doesn't even have that going for him. At least Rahul and Mendis have done something in tests.

 

[Ellipsism]

But Babar doesn't even have that going for him. At least Rahul and Mendis have done something in tests.

And how many tests has Babar played?

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

Babar being overhyped same way as Umar Akmal. Let's wait and watch what he does in next couple of years.

 

[Rayyman]

And how many tests has Babar played?

Babar has played 6 Tests. 5 in Aus/NZ and 1 in UAE.
Mendis has played 15 Tests. 3 in SA and I believe the rest are in Zim/SL.

 

[Citizen4]

But Babar doesn't even have that going for him. At least Rahul and Mendis have done something in tests.

just wait till WI test series and upcoming UAE test series this year, then Babar's test average will be 50+, wait and watch

 

[Citizen4]

Babar has played 6 Tests. 5 in Aus/NZ and 1 in UAE.
Mendis has played 15 Tests. 3 in SA and I believe the rest are in Zim/SL.

Mendis has played only 2 good innings at home in his whole career so far, he's the one who's overhyped

 

[Abdul]

KL Rahul by a big margin. His hundred in Australia was magnificent.

 

[Ellipsism]

Babar has played 6 Tests. 5 in Aus/NZ and 1 in UAE.
Mendis has played 15 Tests. 3 in SA and I believe the rest are in Zim/SL.

It was a rhetorical question...

 

[Rayyman]

It was a rhetorical question...

Others may not be aware of these stats.

 

[Justcrazy]

Babar , according to me . But he needs to keep on working on his batting , and not get stagnant.

 

[Brilliance]

Rahul is ahead of everybody else. Then Babar and Media.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

Mosaddek will be better than all of them in all format,specially test.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

Babar,somya overhyped.

 

[msb314]

For me - definitely Babar.

 

[Zak_Fan]

Even though Rahul hasn't done justice to his talent, he still looks a class apart.

 

[kingusama92]

Toss up between Babar and KL Rahul.

 

[volcyz]

KL Rahul has been extremely impressive.

Especially considering his shoulder injury and other spate of injuries.

 

[JibranAnsari]

1 Rahul
2 Mendis
3 Azam
4 Sarkar

 

[Varun]

Babar Azam by a mile.

Rahul a close second - but unlike Babar he doesn't seem to be good enough to make the ODI team which will limit his impact.

 

[Citizen4]

Babar Azam by a mile.

Rahul a close second - but unlike Babar he doesn't seem to be good enough to make the ODI team which will limit his impact.

true. When Babar will reach Rahul's current age, he'll be in the top 5 rankings in both test and ODI, right now 9th ranked in ODIs.

 

[Executioner]

Rahul
Babar
Mendis
Sarkar

But I feel Mosaddek is one with a lot of potential especially in tests

 

[last_knight]

after 12 months, we'd be talking about some other new guys, stick to these 4 now

OP clearly mentioned option of "other".

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Babar Azam.

 

[Dios]

Rahul better in Tests and Azam in ODIs.

In a year Mosaddek will be up there as well.

Mendis and Soumya are not in the same class.

 

[amit]

KL Rahul should win this poll

Anshuman Rath of Hong Kong should have been in the options too. Just because he is from Hong Kong and Hong Kong does not get a chance to play big teams, shouldn't mean that u can ignore him. Rath has done well everytime he has got a chance

 

[Executioner]

KL Rahul should win this poll

Anshuman Rath of Hong Kong should have been in the options too. Just because he is from Hong Kong and Hong Kong does not get a chance to play big teams, shouldn't mean that u can ignore him. Rath has done well everytime he has got a chance

Performance against quality teams matter tbh.

It's not Rath's fault tho.

 

[Mobashir]

KL Rahul and it is not debatable. Babar comes next and then Mendis.

These days we see you less in Kohli's threads and more in KL Rahul one's... lol

You said Rahul was even better than Renshaw lol.
Rahul averages around 40 after 15 tests shows that he is very inconsistent.

On topic, so far it has to be Babar Azam as he is the only one who has been excellent in one format.

 

[Mobashir]

KL Rahul should win this poll

Anshuman Rath of Hong Kong should have been in the options too. Just because he is from Hong Kong and Hong Kong does not get a chance to play big teams, shouldn't mean that u can ignore him. Rath has done well everytime he has got a chance

To win this poll, he first has to score runs...
So far he hasn't played enough T'20's and ODI's. The only format he has played "enough" is test and he has been very inconsistent in it.

 

[Mobashir]

KL Rahul List A record and his only 3 ODI's played against non minnows, England, on 400 runs pitches, are not promising. He has scored 24 runs in those 3 matches against a poor attack on pathas.

 

[Ab Fan]

Rahul in tests and Babar in odis.

Rahul already has got three hundreds away from home and looks to me the best bet in terms of potential.

 

[Square Drive]

Babar Azam for sure.

He's gonna start scoring runs in Tests from the WI tour onwards, while Rahul will not even get selected for his ODI side.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Babar Azam

Plays in a weak batting line-up. Has been world class in at least one format so far.

 

[Mamoon]

These days we see you less in Kohli's threads and more in KL Rahul one's... lol

You said Rahul was even better than Renshaw lol.
Rahul averages around 40 after 15 tests shows that he is very inconsistent.

On topic, so far it has to be Babar Azam as he is the only one who has been excellent in one format.

Yes you don't see me in Kohli's threads because I don't see the point of jumping up and down over one bad series of a proven, world class player who is course to becoming an ATG.

Yes Rahul is a much better batsman than Renshaw. The latter has fantastic temperament and looks a good prospect for Tests, but Rahul has the ingredients of a complete player. If he fulfills his potential, there is no other young opener in Test cricket at the moment who can match him. He can grind as well as dominate the opposition.

Babar is a fantastic talent, most impressive young Pakistani batsman since MoYo in the late 90's, but he doesn't have Rahul's extra gear. However, Rahul can do everything that Babar does.

 

[Mamoon]

Babar Azam by a mile.

Rahul a close second - but unlike Babar he doesn't seem to be good enough to make the ODI team which will limit his impact.

Big difference between making the Indian ODI team and the Pakistani ODI team. If Rahul was Pakistani, he would be the first choice opener in ODIs by now, but Babar would have struggled to break into the Indian team at this stage.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Big difference between making the Indian ODI team and the Pakistani ODI team. If Rahul was Pakistani, he would be the first choice opener in ODIs by now, but Babar would have struggled to break into the Indian team at this stage.

Except Kohli and Sharma and may be Dhoni, can you please name another top ODI bat from India who kept Rahul out of the team?

And if Indian ODI batting is really that good then it means that Rahul has an immense support available from senior batsmen from whom he can learn. What support does Babar have? Azhar, Hafeez, Malik?

 

[Mamoon]

Except Kohli and Sharma and may be Dhoni, can you please name another top ODI bat from India who kept Rahul out of the team?

And if Indian ODI batting is really that good then it means that Rahul has an immense support available from senior batsmen from whom he can learn. What support does Babar have? Azhar, Hafeez, Malik?

Rahul is an opener, and one spot is already sealed (Rohit). In addition, India wasted too much time with Rahane and Dhawan even though Rahul is better. To take matters into perspective, Dhawan is considered mediocre in India but with with the same stats, he would already be an ODI great for Pakistan and the second best opener after Saeed Anwar. That alone sums up the gulf between the two teams when it comes to batting.

Secondly, it's not as if Babar has been winning matches for Pakistan on his own but has been let down by his teammates. He scored a lot of runs in Australia but his accumulation was taking the team nowhere. At the moment, he doesn't have a power game and lacks impact, something that Rahul has in his armory, which makes him a superior all-round batsman.

If Babar does not improve his power game, he will not win many ODIs for Pakistan in spite of having ATG level stats. He will end up like Amla or Williamson, which is why it is imperative that he must work on his ability to play big shots.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Rahul is an opener, and one spot is already sealed (Rohit). In addition, India wasted too much time with Rahane and Dhawan even though Rahul is better. To take matters into perspective, Dhawan is considered mediocre in India but with with the same stats, he would already be an ODI great for Pakistan and the second best opener after Saeed Anwar. That alone sums up the gulf between the two teams when it comes to batting.

Secondly, it's not as if Babar has been winning matches for Pakistan on his own but has been let down by his teammates. He scored a lot of runs in Australia but his accumulation was taking the team nowhere. At the moment, he doesn't have a power game and lacks impact, something that Rahul has in his armory, which makes him a superior all-round batsman.

If Babar does not improve his power game, he will not win many ODIs for Pakistan in spite of having ATG level stats. He will end up like Amla or Williamson, which is why it is imperative that he must work on his ability to play big shots.

You have not answered both of my questions. Let me ask again by rephrasing my questions a bit.

Who is a better ODI batsman in India besides Kohli, Sharma, and Dhoni who has kept Rahul out of the ODI team? How is someone who has just played 6 matches better than someone who has played 23 matches with identical stats?

Why does not Babar get brownie points like Tendulkar did for playing in a much weaker batting line-up?

Why does not Babar get extra credit for scoring runs on low bounce pitches of the UAE where we do not see 350+ scores like we do in India, Australia, England, SA?

 

[Mobashir]

Big difference between making the Indian ODI team and the Pakistani ODI team. If Rahul was Pakistani, he would be the first choice opener in ODIs by now, but Babar would have struggled to break into the Indian team at this stage.

Scoring 24 runs In 3 matches vs England and having a list À strike rate of 70 makes him an Azhar Ali level batsman In ODI's.

 

[Mobashir]

Yes you don't see me in Kohli's threads because I don't see the point of jumping up and down over one bad series of a proven, world class player who is course to becoming an ATG.

Yes Rahul is a much better batsman than Renshaw. The latter has fantastic temperament and looks a good prospect for Tests, but Rahul has the ingredients of a complete player. If he fulfills his potential, there is no other young opener in Test cricket at the moment who can match him. He can grind as well as dominate the opposition.

Babar is a fantastic talent, most impressive young Pakistani batsman since MoYo in the late 90's, but he doesn't have Rahul's extra gear. However, Rahul can do everything that Babar does.

As you often post about best batsman In the world etc, you could have sais that Steven Smith is miles ahead of Kohli as a batsman and player at this time of their careers.

 

[Mobashir]

Yes you don't see me in Kohli's threads because I don't see the point of jumping up and down over one bad series of a proven, world class player who is course to becoming an ATG.

Yes Rahul is a much better batsman than Renshaw. The latter has fantastic temperament and looks a good prospect for Tests, but Rahul has the ingredients of a complete player. If he fulfills his potential, there is no other young opener in Test cricket at the moment who can match him. He can grind as well as dominate the opposition.

Babar is a fantastic talent, most impressive young Pakistani batsman since MoYo in the late 90's, but he doesn't have Rahul's extra gear. However, Rahul can do everything that Babar does.[/Rahul Dravid was't very versatile as a batsman but still one of the best.
What counts is not the number of different shots you play but the number of runs you score.

Renshaw is scoring In his first tour of Asia on difficult pitches at the age of 20. That alone is a higher achievment than anything Rahul has done In his Test career so far.

 

[Citizen4]

Renshaw is scoring In his first tour of Asia on difficult pitches at the age of 20. That alone is a higher achievment than anything Rahul has done In his Test career so far.

Age matters a lot, when Renshaw will reach Rahul's current age, he will be a much better batsmen then he currently is, same goes for Babar, so comparing players with 2+ years difference of age is not that sensible
, they could improve so much even in 1 year

 

[dildildalwalla]

For now I'm voting Rahul but Babar has the most potential and once he becomes a test regular, I think he could be something special.

 

[geraltofrivia]

Yes you don't see me in Kohli's threads because I don't see the point of jumping up and down over one bad series of a proven, world class player who is course to becoming an ATG.

Yes Rahul is a much better batsman than Renshaw. The latter has fantastic temperament and looks a good prospect for Tests, but Rahul has the ingredients of a complete player. If he fulfills his potential, there is no other young opener in Test cricket at the moment who can match him. He can grind as well as dominate the opposition.

Babar is a fantastic talent, most impressive young Pakistani batsman since MoYo in the late 90's, but he doesn't have Rahul's extra gear. However, Rahul can do everything that Babar does.[/Rahul Dravid was't very versatile as a batsman but still one of the best.
What counts is not the number of different shots you play but the number of runs you score.

Renshaw is scoring In his first tour of Asia on difficult pitches at the age of 20. That alone is a higher achievment than anything Rahul has done In his Test career so far.

Centuries in Oz, WI and SL? Bias na karo yaar.

 

[geraltofrivia]

Age matters a lot, when Renshaw will reach Rahul's current age, he will be a much better batsmen then he currently is, same goes for Babar, so comparing players with 2+ years difference of age is not that sensible
, they could improve so much even in 1 year

Improvement is not always a guarantee. Amir/Umar Akmal etc are shadows of their younger selves. A player's improvement is not like money in a bank constantly appreciating. Many players are unable to push on.

 

[Mobashir]

Improvement is not always a guarantee. Amir/Umar Akmal etc are shadows of their younger selves. A player's improvement is not like money in a bank constantly appreciating. Many players are unable to push on.

Even then he is already better. He averages over 50 where as Rahul averages 40.

 

[geraltofrivia]

Even then he is already better. He averages over 50 where as Rahul averages 40.

Over how many matches? Rahul already has 3 away tons.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Babar Azam is a much, much better batsman. I don't think there's even a debate. Let Babar Azam play as many series on his grounds vs pathetic spinners like Moeen Ali, Rashid, Zafar Ansari, Sodhi or Santner and you will see how his average goes up.

Lokesh Rahul is one of my favorite players in the world and the gut he's shown in the Aus series is terrific. Performed in every single match but Babar is still leaps and bounds ahead. Just wait till he plays these many series in Pakistan ...or even UAE.

As for ODI's; I don't think anyone would disagree that Babar is light years ahead. In the long run however, I expect Lokesh Rahul to overtake Babar Azam in LOI's because of his power hitting, strength, work ethic and agility because the future of ODI's is fast paced cricket and Lokesh has a fitness regime unparalleled by most. And being in the company of someone like Kohli will only do him more good. Kohli for Rahul will be what Imran Khan was to Wasim Akram.

Babar will be the dominant one in Tests in the long run because our batting unit is more established there.

 

[Mamoon]

[MENTION=43051]Mobashir[/MENTION]

Stats so early in your career, good or bad, don't mean much. It is all about potential at this stage, and KL Rahul has fantastic potential and he has shown glimpses of it already. There are countless examples of quality players not having great stats early in their careers, and KL Rahul actually has great stats already + he has shown a lot of ability. Hundred in Tests Australia in his first series, 199 vs England, century in WI and a 50 ball hundred in a T20. Recently, he has performed when the rest of the Indian batting has failed, which shows his class.

Renshaw is very good too, but he is limited player in terms of stroke-play. You know your cricket and are a keen observer of the game, but because of your extreme bias against Indian players, you always end up degrading them. If KL Rahul wasn't Indian, you would have been hailing him as the next big thing.

 

[Mamoon]

Babar Azam is a much, much better batsman. I don't think there's even a debate. Let Babar Azam play as many series on his grounds vs pathetic spinners like Moeen Ali, Rashid, Zafar Ansari, Sodhi or Santner and you will see how his average goes up.

Lokesh Rahul is one of my favorite players in the world and the gut he's shown in the Aus series is terrific. Performed in every single match but Babar is still leaps and bounds ahead. Just wait till he plays these many series in Pakistan ...or even UAE.

As for ODI's; I don't think anyone would disagree that Babar is light years ahead. In the long run however, I expect Lokesh Rahul to overtake Babar Azam in LOI's because of his power hitting, strength, work ethic and agility because the future of ODI's is fast paced cricket and Lokesh has a fitness regime unparalleled by most. And being in the company of someone like Kohli will only do him more good. Kohli for Rahul will be what Imran Khan was to Wasim Akram.

Babar will be the dominant one in Tests in the long run because our batting unit is more established there.

Your opinion, but that is massive exaggeration based on nothing (especially when you have conceded that KL Rahul will be better than Babar in LOIs). There is nothing in Babar's game that is not present in KL Rahul's, absolutely nothing, but the latter has an extra gear which Babar does not have at this point. I don't know why it is difficult for some to accept that although Babar is a special talent, KL Rahul is simply better in all areas. It seems like people are over-sensitive when it comes to Babar because he is the best batting talent we have produced for more than a decade.

 

[Mamoon]

As you often post about best batsman In the world etc, you could have sais that Steven Smith is miles ahead of Kohli as a batsman and player at this time of their careers.

I have already said multiple times that Smith is ahead of Kohli in Tests.

 

[Mamoon]

Technique - KL Rahul
Temparament - KL Rahul
Shot range - KL Rahul
Power-hitting - KL Rahul
Athleticism/agility - KL Rahul

Both players are in the embryonic stages of their career, but still, Babar is far ahead for some reason because he scored 3 hundreds vs WI in the UAE at run a ball, as if it is a bigger achievement than scoring a Test century in Australia (where Babar failed), scoring a 199 in Tests vs England and then following it up with excellent performances vs Australia. Not to mention a 50 ball T20 century.

Only in Pakistan will you see such dishonest assessment.

 

[Syed1]

Big difference between making the Indian ODI team and the Pakistani ODI team. If Rahul was Pakistani, he would be the first choice opener in ODIs by now, but Babar would have struggled to break into the Indian team at this stage.

Indian team is still miles ahead of us but its not like they don't have problems of their own. Their entire batting line up revolves around Kohli. In most cases it is Kohli or bust. They are struggling to find two regular openers. Dhawan is in and out of the side. Sharma is always looking over his shoulder. Considering that Babar has an average of an in excess of 50 after playing in and against England and Australia, and also on the dead slow pitches of UAE, I doubt that he would have struggled to find a spot in the Indian ODI eleven.

 

[DRsohail]

Your opinion, but that is massive exaggeration based on nothing (especially when you have conceded that KL Rahul will be better than Babar in LOIs). There is nothing in Babar's game that is not present in KL Rahul's, absolutely nothing, but the latter has an extra gear which Babar does not have at this point. I don't know why it is difficult for some to accept that although Babar is a special talent, KL Rahul is simply better in all areas. It seems like people are over-sensitive when it comes to Babar because he is the best batting talent we have produced for more than a decade.

fitness issue can halt kl progress...otherwise he is ahead in t20 and tests...odi may be both are equal or babris ahead..

 

[Mamoon]

If the shoe was on the other foot and had Babar scored a Test hundred in Australia while KL Rahul would have failed, the same folks would have been using that as a conclusive evidence of Babar being better than KL Rahul, but now three run-a-ball tons vs WI in ODIs is enough to override all the good performances of KL Rahul so far. Pathetic.

 

[Mamoon]

fitness issue can halt kl progress...otherwise he is ahead in t20 and tests...odi may be both are equal or babris ahead..

Babar cannot be ahead of him in ODIs either unless he improves his power game. He can accumulate only at this stage, while KL Rahul can do both.

 

[shaz619]

Technique - KL Rahul
Temparament - KL Rahul
Shot range - KL Rahul
Power-hitting - KL Rahul
Athleticism/agility - KL Rahul

Both players are in the embryonic stages of their career, but still, Babar is far ahead for some reason because he scored 3 hundreds vs WI in the UAE at run a ball, as if it is a bigger achievement than scoring a Test century in Australia (where Babar failed), scoring a 199 in Tests vs England and then following it up with excellent performances vs Australia. Not to mention a 50 ball T20 century.

Only in Pakistan will you see such dishonest assessment.

Mamoon Template for PP

"Glorify Indian players at all times across all discussion with no regard to the question or validity of the reasoning provided in order to generate max heat from PPers"

 

[Syed1]

If the shoe was on the other foot and had Babar scored a Test hundred in Australia while KL Rahul would have failed, the same folks would have been using that as a conclusive evidence of Babar being better than KL Rahul, but now three run-a-ball tons vs WI in ODIs is enough to override all the good performances of KL Rahul so far. Pathetic.

Babar also has ODI hundred vs Australia in Australia