5 Youngsters Who Have The Potential To Become Great All-Format Players
Cricket has travelled a long way from the days when only Test matches existed. For over 100 years it was only Test cricket that was played as the sport spread across the globe. Limited-overs cricket arrived in 1963, followed by the first ODI World Cup in 1975. The game grew and a new format was created with 20-over innings. The rise of T20 cricket then changed the sport again, introducing power-hitting, new tactics and packed schedules. The modern era created a new breed of all-format players.
These players would go on to play all 3 formats of the game, regularly for their countries. Names like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, David Warner, Jasprit Bumrah, AB de Villiers, Shakib Al Hasan, Chris Gayle, Shane Watson, Quinton de Kock, Mitchell Starc, Trent Boult, Tim Southee and more defined this generation.
But only 5 players in history have been No.1 in ICC rankings across all three formats: Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Shakib Al Hasan.
But with T20 leagues dominating today’s calendar, all-format players are becoming rare. Some even worry if ‘all-format players’ will become a thing of the past.
Here are 5 youngsters who have the potential to excel in all formats in the years to come.
1. Yashasvi Jaiswal (India)
Yashasvi Jaiswal comes from a very humble background and has made rapid progress across formats and in international cricket since his debut. He has already established himself as a crucial player for India in both Tests. The left-hand opener has over 2,400 Test runs in 27 matches at an average close to 50, including 2 double hundreds, 7 centuries and 12 fifties.
He made his IPL debut in 2020 for Rajasthan Royals but played only 3 matches that season. In the IPL, he has scored 2100+ runs in 66 matches at a strike rate above 150, with 2 hundreds and 15 fifties. He also has 700+ runs in 23 T20Is for India at a strike rate of 164.32.
He has played only one ODI so far in February 2025 against England, but with transitions expected after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Jaiswal will soon be in contention. Still early days but at 23, he looks set to dominate world cricket for the next decade.
2. Dewald Brevis (South Africa)
Dewald Brevis is nicknamed as “Baby AB” for his resemblance to the great AB de Villiers. He has built his reputation on fearless and innovative shot-making. He came to the limelight after scoring 506 runs in the 2022 U-19 World Cup, the most in an edition, and soon made his way into the IPL with Mumbai Indians.
He made his T20I debut in 2023 and played his first ODIs and Tests in 2025. In 15 T20Is, he already has a hundred and a fifty with batting in the middle order. He’s yet to leave a mark in ODIs & Tests and has two fifties in Tests and ODIs combined. With proper grooming, Brevis could become one of South Africa’s leading all-format players.
3. Naseem Shah (Pakistan)
Naseem Shah has already made a huge impact in the Pakistan cricket team with his raw pace. In 2019, he made his Test debut at just 16. Before turning 21, he had crossed 50 international wickets. And at 23, he is nearing 150 international wickets in 86 matches. This is no mean feat for a young fast bowler.
He has 60 Test wickets and 60 ODI wickets, while in T20Is he has 28 wickets in 32 matches. Across all T20s, he has taken 135 wickets in 133 games.
His pace, movement and maturity don’t just make him one of Pakistan’s brightest long-term prospects but the potential to become one of the best fast bowlers in the world across formats for years to come.
4. Harry Brook (England)
Harry Brook burst onto the scene with nearly 1000 first-class runs at 107.44 in the 2022 County Championship.
Brook made his Test debut against South Africa in September 2022. He then followed it up with scores of 153, 87, 9, 108, 111, 89, 54 and 186 across tours of Pakistan and New Zealand, taking his overall tally to 809 runs in 9 innings and 3 hundreds in the first 4 Tests.
He now has 10 Test hundreds in 30 matches, averaging 57.55. He also has a Test triple-hundred, the first by an Englishman since 1990. Brook also has over 1000 ODI runs in 35 matches at 36.56 and more than 1000 T20I runs in 52 games at 30.66.
He replaced Jos Buttler as England’s white-ball captain after the 2025 Champions Trophy and is currently England’s vice-captain for Ashes 2025/26. As per his growth trajectory, he is one of the strongest all-format contenders of the game in the future.
5. Matheesha Pathirana (Sri Lanka)
Matheesha Pathirana is often compared to Lasith Malinga for his slingy fast-bowling action and yorkers. He was spotted in the T10 league, debuted in the IPL for CSK in 2022 and dismissed Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya in a match against GT. He became their key death bowler in IPL 2023 and helped CSK win their fifth IPL title.
He played just 6 games in IPL 2024 because of injury, but CSK retained him for INR 13 crore ahead of IPL 2025. However he was released ahead of the 2026 auction in December 2025. He has 47 wickets for CSK in 32 matches, supported by a decent economy and strike rate. Despite injuries, he remains one of Sri Lanka’s top long-term prospects.
The 22-year-old has 47 wickets in 33 international matches and Sri Lanka expects him to lead their attack across formats in the coming years. He is yet to make his Test debut. If trained and groomed for the highest level, the young gun could be a weapon for Sri Lanka across formats in the future.