Harsha Bhogle predicts the must-watch players from each cricketing nation in 2025 ft. India

In 2024, several cricketers have showcased exceptional performances, marking themselves as the future stars of the sport. As each nation continues to nurture its talent pool, new players are emerging, ready to take their game to the next level. Now, cricket analyst Harsha Bhogle, speaking on his Youtube channel, has curated a list of players from each country whom he believes will perform exceptionally in 2025.

From exciting new talents to promising all-rounders, these players are expected to make significant strides in the cricketing world. Bhogle’s picks include individuals who have already impressed with their skills and are ready to dominate the international stage. Here’s a breakdown of the players he’s keeping an eye on for the upcoming year.

Harsha Bhogle’s top picks from each cricketing nation to watch in 2025

1. Afghanistan’s emerging talents

Bhogle is quite excited about Afghanistan’s future, especially the promising left-handed top-order batter, Sediqullah Atal, whose solid technique and batting prowess have impressed Bhogle. He also emphasizes Allah Ghazanfar, a young spinner, noting that Afghanistan’s consistent production of spinners is a testament to their growing cricketing depth. Ghazanfar, according to Bhogle, could make waves, particularly in the IPL, as he continues to develop.

“Afghanistan’s emerging talent, Sediqullah Atal, has caught my eye. At 23, he’s already making waves as a left-handed top-order batter. His ability to score runs consistently and the way he plays with maturity for his age make me believe that he will be one to watch closely in 2025. I’m excited to see how he develops in the coming months. Allah Ghazanfar, the new spinner from Afghanistan, is someone I’m really excited about. Afghanistan has a rich history of producing top-class spinners, and Ghazanfar seems to fit right into that mold. I’m particularly looking forward to seeing him perform in the IPL, where the level of competition will give him the platform to showcase his skills and develop further,” Bhogle said.

2. Bangladesh’s future stars

Bangladesh’s promising young fast bowlers, Tanzim Hassan and Nahid Rana, have been garnering attention. Bhogle is particularly excited about Nahid, who has shown remarkable pace and wicket-taking abilities in domestic competitions. Along with Hassan Mahmud, a versatile bowler with a knack for both the short and long formats, these players represent the new wave of pace and spin for Bangladesh. Bhogle sees these players as pivotal for Bangladesh’s future, especially in conditions favorable to fast bowlers.

“Nahid is a fast bowler with something very few possess: genuine pace. I’m particularly keen to see how Bangladesh develops him in the coming years. His pace is a rare commodity, and if he can harness it effectively, he could be a real asset for the team. I’m excited to follow his progress closely. Hassan Mahmud is a bowler I really enjoy watching. He’s versatile, uses conditions to his advantage, and is incredibly clever in his approach. He’s got the outswinger, can be nippy when required, and strikes me as a bowler who thinks through every delivery. I’m excited to see how he continues to develop and how his cleverness will play a key role for Bangladesh in 2025,” Bhogle stated.

3. Sri Lanka’s bright future

Sri Lanka‘s emerging talents have caught Bhogle’s attention, with players like Pathum Nissanka and Kamindu Mendis standing out. Bhogle has high hopes for Mendes, who has been impressive recently, and he believes that Sri Lanka can nurture these players to fulfill their potential. Bhogle also mentions Jayasuriya, a new spinner, as a player to watch, hoping that Sri Lanka doesn’t let their talents stagnate.

“Let’s go south then, to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has thrown up quite a few players—Matheesha Pathirana, Asitha Fernando, and so many others. I don’t know if I can include Pathum Nissanka in that list because he’s been around, but I think he’s a mighty talent. And then there’s Kamindu Mendes. I mean, you just have to. You cannot have a list without Kamindu Mendes and the kind of numbers he’s thrown up this year, the kind of performances he’s delivered this year. Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendes, and I just hope—I really do hope—that Sri Lanka develops these two, because over the last few years, there are so many players I’ve looked at with excitement, and I just haven’t seen them after that. There’s another spin-house coming through, remember Jayasuriya. He plays one form of the game I love watching well, and I think he can just be that allrounder. But again, as I said with Sri Lanka, I’d love to see these players ascend to the next level. Sometimes, the talent stagnates there. So, come on, Sri Lanka! I’d love to see all these players, but the two that I’ve picked are Nissanka and Kamindu Mendes,” Bhogle examined.

4. Pakistan’s promising duo

Bhogle is excited about Pakistan’s Saim Ayub, a player who has shown significant promise despite being overshadowed by established stars like Rizwan and Babar. Bhogle compares Ayub to Fakhar Zaman and hopes he will rise to the occasion. Salman Agha, an all-rounder, is also one of Bhogle’s picks, as he has shown impressive skills both with the bat and ball. Sufiyan Muqeem, another emerging talent, is also on Bhogle’s radar.

“Now, to our west, Pakistan. Two players stand out. Saim Ayub, for a long time, wouldn’t get picked because Pakistan had Rizwan and Babar at the top of the order. The last time a player excited me like that was Fakhar Zaman, and I know there’s a bit of turmoil going on around him as well. So, Ayub is the person I’m looking forward to from there. I know Pakistan likes Saud Shakil a lot, but when I saw another young player at the end of last year here in Australia, where I am at the moment, I just thought, “He can bowl and he definitely can bat more—more batter than bowler.” He’s some player, and I’m very happy to see that it started being reflected in the numbers. That’s Salman Agha. I think you’re going to see a lot more of Salman AA. I only hope that he doesn’t fade away like a couple of gifted spin-bowling all-rounders have in recent times—not going to name names just now, but these two really excite me. There’s also an exciting player coming through, Sufiyan Muqeem. I don’t know how far he’s going to go. I’ll be honest, I’ve not seen enough of him, but I just look at the scorecard and his name pops up every time. So that’s another name to look forward to in Pakistan,” Bhogle discussed.

5. Australia’s emerging players

Australia’s deep talent pool continues to impress, but Bhogle is unsure which player will make a significant impact in the coming year. Bhogle mentions fast bowlers like Lance Morris, Spencer Johnson and Xavier Bartlett, but questions whether they will break out. In batting, Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis are names Bhogle is watching closely, though he’s yet to find a standout player who excites him as much as some of the current stars.

“Let’s move further—Australia. Normally, you think of Australia, and you think 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. But I’m thinking, “Who’s the young fast bowler that’s catching everyone’s eye? Is it going to be Lance Morris? Is it going to be Spencer Johnson? Is it going to be Xavier Bartlett?” Are they setting the world on fire? Who’s the next young batter coming through? Maybe Sam Konstas, who’s just been picked to play the Boxing Day test as I record this. But I ask my friends in Australia, “Who’s the next exciting young talent coming through?” Josh Inglis, maybe? So, that’s one player to watch for. What can you imagine? Here’s a team that’s doing well, and I can’t find someone to excite me next year from Australia. So, let’s move on,” Bhogle considered.

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6. England’s standout talents

In England, Bhogle is most excited about Harry Brook, who he describes as having a rare skill set. Along with Brook, Phil Salt, who may not feature in Tests but shows great promise in limited-overs formats, is another name Bhogle is eager to see. Other players like Shoaib Bashir, Jamie Smith and Matthew Potts have potential, but Bhogle’s focus remains on Brook and Salt.

“England threw up many fine young players this year—Shoaib Basher, Jamie Smith. I like Matthew Potts, actually. I’ve talked to people about him. Matthew Potts, I think, is a little down the pecking order. These three or four players did very well, but the ones that I find very exciting are Harry Brook, of course. I think he’s cut from a different cloth. And I’m going for someone who’s not going to play Test match cricket by the look of it, but gee, he’s some player. So, the two that I picked from England as the players I want to watch out for are Harry Brook and Phil Salt. As I said, I’d love to watch Smith and Atkinson and Shoaib Basheer, but these are the two that I just look at and say, “Oh!” As I said right at the top, something about them,” Bhogle examined.

7. New Zealand’s future stars

Bhogle has been impressed with Rachin Ravindra’s potential and is keen to see him channel his abilities in the right direction. Will O’Rourke, who has impressed Bhogle with his versatility as a bowler, is another player to watch. While Kyle Jamieson remains a standout, Bhogle notes the injury concerns that tall fast bowlers face. Ravindra and O’Rourke are the two emerging players Bhogle is most excited about.

“New Zealand—what a player Rachin Ravindra is going to be for them. Now it’s just a question of controlling the flow, controlling all that he can do, channelizing it, not letting the river overflow its banks. So I like Rachin Ravindra, and I was mighty impressed with Will O’Rourke. I feel the same way about Kyle Jamieson, I must hasten to add, but tall, big fast bowlers are injury-prone. But Will O’Rourke, not just a fast bowler, comes and bangs it in short. He can bowl full. He can bowl quick as well. So, the two names I’ve picked from New Zealand are Rachin Ravindra and Will O’Rourke,” Bhogle talked out.

8. West Indies’ future

Bhogle is most excited about Jayden Seales, praising his beautiful action and stunning bowling. Bhogle believes Seales has the potential to make a big impact and hopes the West Indies provide him with the right support. Other players like Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers and Shamarh Joseph are mentioned, though Bhogle feels the excitement around them is yet to reach full potential.

“Then, the West Indies. I look at the West Indies and I think, “Where’s the next big fast bowler coming from? Where’s the big new attacking bat going to come from? Who’s the hard-hitting allrounder?” There are so many names in West Indies; they just come and go. You say, “Hang on, where were they?” Remember Kyle Mayers and Nkrumah Bonner? That great series in Bangladesh—I see Keacy Karti coming up, but I don’t know if there’s enough of them to get excited and look forward to with glee. Shamarh Joseph—really look forward to seeing what he has to offer. But if I had to pick one name from the West Indies, it’s Jayden Seales. You see his action—it’s beautiful. He’s a stunning bowler, and I just hope they look after him. Again, Alzarri Joseph was another bowler, but I just think Jayden Seales is the name to watch out for from the West Indies,” Bhogle considered.

9. South Africa’s rising stars

Bhogle is particularly excited about Kwena Maphaka, a left-arm player who reminds him of Kagiso Rabada’s early days. Bhogle also admires Tristan Stubbs for his versatility, as he can keep wickets, bat, and bowl. Stubbs’ all-round abilities make him a standout, and Bhogle sees him as a breakout star from South Africa in 2025.

“Three names for me from South Africa. I haven’t got Marco Jansen because we saw him a little earlier. I look at where he scores his runs, when he scores them. Players like Kyle Verreynne or Ryan Rickleton, another player who’s scoring up there, but I looked at two players and thought: Kwena Maphaka came out of Under-19 cricket, and here’s a kid, left-arm, and that left-arm reminds me so much of Rabada when Rabada was starting out, so a bit of that. But I think the name to watch from South Africa is Tristan Stubbs. It’s an exciting player. He can bat, he can bowl, he can keep wickets. He is such a versatile player. And so that’s the name I’m looking out for—Tristan Stubbs. He’s going to break out,” Bhogle reviewed.

10. India’s emerging left-handed trio

Bhogle expresses admiration for India’s deep talent pool, particularly the new left-handed trio of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma. India’s future in international cricket looks bright, with many players possessing the potential to excel across all formats. Bhogle envisions players like Jaiswal becoming cornerstone figures in India’s batting lineup, while Sharma’s T20 prowess could make him a valuable asset in the shortest format. He also sees Varma developing into a multi-format star for India.

“Yashasvi Jaiswal… he’s going to do much more, but Yashasvi Jaiswal, across formats, I’m talking about. Abhishek Sharma—I don’t know if he wants to play too much red-ball cricket, but what he’s done in T20 cricket… he has finished the year at a ridiculous strike rate of 189 or 190, or thereabouts. He’s (Tilak) starting to look like the complete package now… he’s going to become a proper multi-format player. I just hope he continues to be a good fielder, becomes even better, and starts bowling a little bit more too,” Bhogle presumed.

Bhogle’s top 5 overall picks for 2025

Looking ahead to 2025, Bhogle is particularly excited about Jaiswal, Brook, Ravindra, Stubbs and Mendis. These players have all shown remarkable promise in the recent past and are expected to be crucial in their respective teams. Jaiswal’s maturity, Brook’s flair, Ravindra’s balance, Stubbs’ versatility, and Mendes’ all-around abilities are the qualities Bhogle looks for as the next wave of cricketing stars.

“I’m excited for these players… they’ve had strong years in 2024, but I see great potential for their growth in 2025,” Bhogle concluded.

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