All-rounders in white-ball cricket are worth their weight in gold. Currently, Hardik Pandya is the only genuine all-rounder that India has in white-ball cricket although the likes of Shivam Dube and Nitish Reddy are working their way up the ladder. There is also a steady influx of all-rounders in the domestic setup. Meanwhile, in U19 cricket, India has a gem in the form of Kanishk Chouhan.
Chouhan's all-round prowess (46 and 3-33) were critical in India's mammoth 90-run win against Pakistan in the 2025 U19 Asia Cup fixture in Dubai on Sunday (December 14). While Aaron George's silky 88-ball 85 was the top-score for India U19, the team needed Chouhan's invaluable run-a-ball innings towards the back end to get to a competitive total of 240.
Chouhan's batting skills are more than handy but he is more of a solid player who can also pack a punch with his power. Bowling, though, is his stronger suite. So far at least, but that can change as he ages. Chouhan's three wickets came at a misery economy rate of 3.30 runs-per-over and two of those were big scalps, including Pakistan's top-scorer Huzaifa Ahsan (70 off 83).
Born in the interiors of Rajasthan, Chouhan is a right-hand batter and right-arm off spinner by design. Consistently strong performances have seen Chouhan rise through his state's age-group system and finally into India's U19 system. The 19-year-old is yet to debut in domestic cricket across formats but the talent is undeniable.
Meanwhile, a huge leap forward for Chouhan is his inclusion in the IPL 2026 mini-auction list. It is a clear marker of how much recognition he has already gained. Even as the list has got modified and trimmed, the youngster continues to be in the fray and performances like the one against Pakistan U19 in Dubai will only strengthen his case.
