5 cricketers who could soon be India's biggest superstars

From the legendary Kapil Dev to the kingly Virat Kohli, Indian cricket has produced some of the biggest superstars over the years. These players, thanks to their unparalleled competence and charisma, have inspired millions across the globe and played a crucial role in making many youngsters take up cricket as a profession.

However, it's not just the sheer mastery of these superstars that has formed a part of their folklore. Each of these cricketers has an inspiring story that moves us each time we hear it.

The facts that Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni rose from small towns in India to become World Cup winners, Virat Kohli lost his father at a young age or even the Pandya brothers facing the odds to pursue their passion, have all struck a chord with us fans and have made us love the sport all the more.

As this rich legacy of producing superstars continues to prosper, India is currently witnessing the rise of a few such promising cricketers who hold the potential to emerge as quality players in the coming years and play a pivotal role in taking the Indian cricket forward.

Here are 5 young Indian cricketers who could soon be the country's biggest superstars:

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#5 Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav is quickly rising up the ranks in limited overs cricket

In an age where the advent of T20 cricket has thrown the classical form of spin out of the window, India's Kuldeep Yadav stands as one of those few spin bowlers who continue to bamboozle the batsmen with orthodoxy.

A skilful left-arm bowler, Yadav, in a quick span of time, has emerged as one of India's major weapons in the limited overs formats.

Yadav has not only impressed in the subcontinental conditions but has also come out trumps in the challenging conditions of South Africa and England. From the outfoxing chinaman to the enigmatic googlies, the 23-year-old possesses a wide range of tricks under his sleeve to prove a handful on any wicket.

With 48 wickets in 23 ODIs and 24 wickets in 12 T20Is, the Uttar Pradesh lad certainly holds the promise of reigning supreme with his "near-extinct" craft.

#4 Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya blew away the English batters in the 2nd innings of the Nottingham Test

Hardik Pandya has raised many hopes of answering India's age-old quest for a reliable all-rounder in all formats of the game.

Ever since being thrown into the limelight through the IPL, the man from Baroda has managed to make headlines frequently with his heroics with both bat and ball. With the abilities to hit the long ball and chip in with timely wickets, Pandya has become an ideal fit for the no. 6 or 7 slots in any format.

Fast turning into an integral part of the Indian squad, the 24-year-old has done himself a favour by blowing away the English batting unit in the 3rd Test of ongoing England vs India series. Silencing his critics with a superb display of swing bowling, Pandya has once again put forth his claim of emerging as one of India's biggest superstars in the coming years.

#3 Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah has turned into India's most reliable bowler in the recent past

Fast, hostile and accurate, Jasprit Bumrah is a bright prospect in store for India's pace bowling future. Right from his debut against Australia in early 2016, the lanky paceman has managed to grab the eyeballs of fast-bowling enthusiasts.

A quick learner who wears the heart on his sleeves, Bumrah has quickly climbed the ladder to be hailed as one of the finest bowlers going around currently in the limited overs format. In fact, his attributes of mental calm and self-belief have helped him earn the tag of being one of the best bowlers in the death overs.

India's recent tour of South Africa also saw the 24-year-old embrace the longer format with open arms. If groomed ably and persisted with, the Ahmedabad lad has the ability to hold the right aces as India's major weapon in the pace bowling department in the coming years.

#2 Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant is one of India's most exciting prospects in stores

Getting off the mark in Test cricket can get the best of the batsmen edgy and restless. However, it was as easy as pie for young Rishabh Pant who mounted Adil Rashid into the stands to score his first runs in Test cricket.

With an aggressive style of batting that is capable of demolishing any bowling unit on a given day, Pant has been known as one of India's most exciting prospects in the recent times. The Delhi lad has been a prolific scorer in domestic cricket and is currently busy taking giant strides towards fulfilling his dream of playing for India on a regular basis.

Given that the 2019 World Cup is around the corner and India is looking for a reliable wicketkeeper-batsman to back MS Dhoni up, Pant would certainly look to prove his mettle and justify the selectors' faith in him to emerge as the next big thing in Indian cricket.

#1 KL Rahul

KL Rahul has left everyone in awe with his blistering strokeplay

In a recent interview, former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly said that KL Rahul excites him and talents like him are not found every day. The fact that one of India's greatest cricketers has spoken so highly of Rahul speaks volumes of what's in store for the Karnataka boy.

A prolific run scorer who possesses breathtaking strokeplay, Rahul comes as a batsman who can single-handedly take the game away from the opposition on his day. With his recent jawdropping century against England in the T20 series as the testimony, the 26-year-old has once again proved why does Indian cricket need to pin its hopes on him.

However, inconsistency has often played a spoilsport in Rahul's case and he would be looking to set the equation right in the coming few games and hold his potential of becoming one of India's batting heroes in the near future.