As the Champions Trophy kicks off in Pakistan and Dubai on Wednesday, several lesser-known players will be looking to make their mark on the 50-over tournament. AFP Sport highlights five emerging talents who could make a significant impact.
Tayyab Tahir (Pakistan)
Middle-order batsman Tayyab Tahir, 31, made headlines in the 2023 Emerging Teams Asia Cup, where his match-winning century powered Pakistan to victory against India in the final.
He has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket and had a few T20 outings for Pakistan before making his ODI debut last year. While his white-ball international scores have been moderate—his highest being an unbeaten 39 in T20s—Tahir has caught the attention of cricket greats.
Fast bowling legend Wasim Akram has hailed him as a “very exciting talent” after his impressive performances in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Tom Banton (England)
England’s Tom Banton, 26, recently returned to the ODI setup after being called up for the final match against India earlier this month.
Batting at number three, he scored 38 runs in Ahmedabad, replacing the injured Jacob Bethell in England’s Champions Trophy squad.
A standout performer in T20 franchise cricket, Banton has been in top form in the United Arab Emirates’ premier competition, scoring 493 runs, including two centuries, in 11 innings. His aggressive batting style and ability to take on spinners could prove crucial for England on the slow pitches in Dubai.
Varun Chakravarthy (India)
India’s Varun Chakravarthy, 33, enters the tournament as a late addition to the squad but brings valuable experience in wrist spin, which could be crucial on the sluggish surfaces in Dubai.
Chakravarthy recently made his ODI debut against England after claiming 14 wickets in India’s 4-1 T20 series triumph.
A key performer in the Indian Premier League (IPL), he was instrumental in Kolkata Knight Riders’ title-winning campaign last year with 21 wickets. India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir believes he could be the team's “X-factor” in the tournament.
Aaron Hardie (Australia)
With the sudden retirement of Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Hardie, 26, has been thrust into the spotlight as Australia’s seam-bowling all-rounder.
Hardie made headlines in 2018 when he dismissed Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in a tour game for Cricket Australia XI and impressed with an 86-run knock.
He recently rattled Sri Lanka with figures of 2-13 and followed up with 32 runs in a losing effort in Colombo.
At 1.93 metres (six feet, four inches) tall, Hardie is an imposing fast bowler who has featured in nine ODIs and is set for his first ICC tournament.
Will O’Rourke (New Zealand)
New Zealand’s Will O’Rourke, 23, has made a strong start to his international career, particularly in Tests, where he made headlines with a nine-wicket haul against South Africa.
He was a key figure in New Zealand’s tri-series final win over Pakistan in Karachi, claiming 4-43—the same venue where New Zealand and Pakistan will kick off the Champions Trophy.
With Ben Sears ruled out and Lockie Ferguson recovering from injury, the Black Caps will rely on O’Rourke and Matt Henry to lead their pace attack.
As the tournament unfolds, these players could be game-changers for their teams, making their presence felt on the world stage.
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