East South Africa Wicketkeeper-batsman and coach mark boucher He has one eye firmly on the future of world cricket, naming four young players who he believes are destined to become global stars. speaking during espncricinfoIn the popular “25 Questions” segment, Boucher was asked to identify three youngsters who could dominate the game in the coming years. Instead, it was impossible for the former Proteas stalwart to limit himself to just three, ultimately choosing a quartet of exciting talents, naming two Indians and the same number of Proteas youth players.
Mark Boucher picks star Indian pair as the next big thing
Boucher’s inclusion of the two Indian batsmen highlights the remarkable depth of talent emerging from the subcontinent. Yashasvi Jaiswal And Tilak VermaWidely considered a once-in-a-generation player, Jaiswal has quickly established himself across formats, From humble beginnings in age-group cricket, the left-handed batsman has made a seamless transition to the highest level, earning praise for his composure, temperament and hunger for big scores, His ability to dominate bowling attacks in Test cricket while maintaining an aggressive edge in the limited overs format has marked him out as a long-term pillar of India’s batting line-up,
Jasiwal’s career in statistics:
- 28 test 2511 runs 7 centuries 13 fifties
- 23 T20I | 723 runs 1 hundred 5 fifties
- 4 ODI 171 runs 1 hundred
Meanwhile, Tilak represents the modern T20 era batsman who thrives under pressure. Trained through the Mumbai Indians system, the left-handed batsman has gone from being a reliable presence in the middle-order to a genuine match-winner for India. His calmness in difficult moments, combined with his ability to accelerate without taking any risks, has seen him rapidly rise up the T20I rankings and earn a reputation as one of India’s most reliable young finishers.
Tilak’s career in numbers:
- 40 T20Is | 1183 runs 2 centuries 6 fifties
- 5 ODI 68 runs 1 fifty
Boucher names exciting Proteas pair to complete his list
On the South African front, Boucher named two players he knows closely from their time in the national set-up – Tristan Stubbs And dewald brevisIn particular, Stubbs has distinguished himself as a versatile batsman who is capable of adapting to multiple roles, Be it opening the innings in red-ball cricket or finishing the game in T20, Stubbs’s flexibility makes him an invaluable asset, His athletic background and strong technique has allowed him to fit seamlessly into different formats, cementing his reputation as a modern all-format player,
Stubbs’ career in numbers:
- 14 test 759 runs 2 centuries 3 fifties
- 42 T20I | 822 runs 2 fifties
- 15 ODI 392 runs 1 hundred 3 fifties
Brewis, often nicknamed “Baby AB” for his shot-making talent, is arguably the most explosive talent of the four. Known for his fearless approach, Brewis has already performed wonders in T20 cricket, hitting boundaries with ease and breaking records at a young age. His clean striking and confidence against elite bowling attacks has established him as one of the most exciting white-ball prospects in the world.
Brevis’ career numbers:
- 4 test 138 runs 2 fifties
- 19 T20I | 469 runs 1 hundred 1 fifty
- 9 ODI 230 runs 1 fifty
Also read: SA20 2026: Full list of commentators and presenters for South Africa’s explosive T20 cricket league
