By Ashok Namboodiri
Indian cricket is now powered by a new class of heroes who evoke raw, emotional attachment among young fans.
It happened in an instant. Day 2 of the India–South Africa Test. India were struggling a bit on a dry wicket, wickets falling in clusters, and as the ninth wicket went down, the atmosphere in the lower tier of the clubhouse turned sombre. I felt the mood shift, until a sudden tug on my neck snapped me back. A young boy, barely twelve, leaned forward, eyes wide with alarm. “Isn’t Shubman playing? What happened to him?”
He hadn’t heard about Gill’s injury. He had only one reason for being there: to watch his hero bat. The panic on his face was sharp and instinctive. In that moment, you could see exactly what Shubman Gill has come to mean to today’s cricket-watching generation, hope, elegance, reassurance.
But the boy’s reaction also revealed something bigger: Indian cricket is now powered by a new class of heroes who evoke raw, emotional attachment among young fans. Shubman Gill, Mohammed Siraj, Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal are not just performers; they are personalities shaping the soul of modern Indian cricket.
Gill is the heartbeat of this generation. His classical technique, smooth timing and effortless back-foot play bring a certain poetry to modern cricket’s frenzy. As captain, his composed presence represents the quiet ambition of a new India. Young fans see in him a player who marries elegance with confidence, someone destined to anchor Indian cricket’s next decade. It’s why the boy panicked at the thought of Gill not walking out… the thought that he had not come in to bat yet was like a reassurance that he would do so eventually.
If Gill is grace, Siraj is grit. No modern Indian fast bowler has connected with young fans quite the way Siraj has. His raw aggression, emotional celebrations and relentless energy make him the most expressive fast bowler India has produced in years. Kids look at Siraj and see authenticity: a fighter who rose from humble beginnings and now rattles the best batters in the world. He represents aspiration in its purest form. I saw raucous shouts of “DSP, DSP” at Eden every time he ran in to bowl, fielded the ball or even went in to bat.
Pant brings something unique, unpredictability stitched to brilliance. He makes cricket fun again. His audacious strokeplay, bold decision-making and remarkable comeback from injury have turned him into the face of fearless Indian cricket. For a generation encouraged to break norms, Pant is the perfect hero: imperfect, explosive, capable of turning a match on its head in minutes.
Then there is Jaiswal, perhaps the most relatable narrative of all. His journey from underdog to pulverising Test attacks is a story that young India holds close. His batting is full of intent, aggression and hunger. When Jaiswal walks out, fans don’t just cheer, they believe. He represents the idea that talent can come from anywhere if the desire burns bright enough.
It was quite an amazing day for me as I sat amongst 42,000 fans today. Who said Test cricket is on the wane? Today was a celebration of a new era… one where Gill, Siraj, Pant and Jaiswal are the emotional anchors of Indian cricket. They make young fans gasp, worry, hope and erupt in a way only true icons can.
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