The second of a four-part series, majorleaguecricket.com has selected its best emerging talent to form an Under-21 XI from the 2021 Toyota Minor League Cricket Championship presented by Sling TV. Future XIs to be revealed will include a Playoffs XI and Overall Season XI.
Rahul Jariwala (Silicon Valley Strikers) (WK)
M: 18 | Runs: 308 | Ave: 20.53 | SR: 105.12 | HS: 81 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 1
Whilst he got off to a slow start this season, Jariwala’s aggression at the top order was a key ingredient in the Silicon Valley Strikers’ eventual championship run. His best innings of the season came in Round 7 against the Seattle Thunderbolts, smashing 81 off only 55 deliveries including seven sixes. Jariwala followed up this innings with an important 41 off only 25 deliveries in a must-win match against the East Bay Blazers in Round 8. He also finished the season with 16 catches and two stumpings.
Jagroop Raina (Seattle Thunderbolts)
M: 13 | Runs: 222 | Ave: 18.50 | SR: 113.27 | HS: 73 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 2
The aggressive left-hander saw his stocks rise throughout the 2021 MiLC campaign, forming an explosive partnership with Andries Gous at the top of the order for the Seattle Thunderbolts. The highlight of Raina’s season came in Round 5 against the SoCal Lashings, when he was unstoppable scoring an unbeaten 77 off just 37 deliveries and collected player of the match honors.
Saiteja Mukkumalla (New Jersey Stallions)
M: 19 | Runs: 398 | Ave: 26.53 | SR: 97.79 | HS: 68 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 2
Mukkumalla was Mr. Consistent in the top-order for the New Jersey Stallions this season, compiling 398 runs to finish 9th in the run-scoring charts in the Atlantic Conference. He took a particular liking to cross-town rivals, the New Jersey Somerset Cavaliers, averaging 112 across two matches including a player of the match award in their Round 4 clash. He passed 25 in exactly half of his innings during the 2021 MiLC season.
Sanjay Krishnamurthi (East Bay Blazers) (C)
M: 10 | Runs: 215 | Ave: 43.00 | SR: 153.57 | HS: 63 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 2
Wkts: 16 | Ave: 11.75 | Econ: 5.37 | BBI: 4/12
One of two U21 players named in the MiLC Domestic Team of the Tournament, the 18 year-old reinforced his status as one of the brightest young prospects in USA Cricket, with a swashbuckling 63 off just 33 balls against the Hollywood Master Blasters being one of three player of the match performances throughout the campaign. He was also a threat with the ball in hand, taking 16 wickets at an average of just 11.75, and conceding just 5.37 runs per over.
Bhaskar Yadram (Empire State Titans)
M: 18 | Runs: 365 | Ave: 33.18 | SR: 141.47 | HS: 60 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 3
Wkts: 14 | Ave: 22.14 | Econ: 6.46 | BBI: 3/22
Bhaskar Yadram made his presence known with bat and ball through the 2021 MiLC Championship, playing a key role in the Empire State Titans progressing through to the Atlantic Conference Championship Match. Whilst he won two player of the match awards throughout the season, the highlight was his final over in the first match of the Atlantic Conference Semi-Finals, successfully defending ten runs to give his team the ascendancy in the series which they went on to win in three matches. He also smashed 29 sixes during his campaign, putting him equal 4th in the Atlantic Conference.
Raymond Ramrattan (New Jersey Stallions)
M: 17 | Runs: 185 | Ave: 16.82 | SR: 108.19 | HS: 31 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 0
Wkts: 18 | Ave: 15.39 | Econ: 6.90 | BBI: 3/13
Raymond Ramrattan was a key contributor to the playoff run of the New Jersey Stallions, but it was his all-round versatility that saw him get the nod in our U21 team of the tournament. Ramrattan’s contributions with the ball were consistent throughout the season, providing a wicket taking option whilst conceding less than seven runs per over bowling in some tough situations for wrist-spinners. He also snared 19 catches throughout the season, leading all fielders including wicketkeepers!
Matthew Forde (Michigan Cricket Stars)
M: 14 | Runs: 139 | Ave: 23.17 | SR: 190.41 | HS: 41 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 0
Wkts: 20 | Ave: 16.10 | Econ: 6.59 | BBI: 4/18
The Bajan all-rounder proved to be one of the many exciting young prospects from the Caribbean that was on display in the 2021 MiLC season. Forde was a wicket-taking machine for the Michigan Cricket Stars, collecting 20 wickets including a hat-trick against the Houston Hurricanes in their Round 3 clash. Most impressive was his consistency, taking wickets in all bar two of his 14 appearances during the season. Forde also showed he can yield the bat, scoring a breathtaking 41 not out off just 12 deliveries in the final match of the season.
Aditya Gupta (Morrisville Cardinals)
M: 10 | Wkts: 16 | Ave: 12.88| Econ: 6.65 | BBI: 4/27 | SR: 11.6 | 4WI: 1
Many feared that we wouldn’t get the chance to see Aditya Gupta take the field following a serious knee injury sustained earlier in the season. Fortunately, Gupta not only recovered in time to take part in the season but also reminded everyone that he is one of the brightest young wrist-spinners in the US. He led the wickets for the Morrisville Cardinals en route to their maiden finals appearance, and his impressive strike rate of 11.6 was second only to Damion Jacobs across the entire competition.
Ateendra Subramanian (Atlanta Fire)
M: 14 | Wkts: 17 | Ave: 17.24 | Econ: 7.33 | BBI: 3/31 | SR: 14.1 | 4WI: 0
One of the youngest players in the competition, Subramanian begun the tournament relatively unknown to those outside of Atlanta. The Atlanta Fire took note however, and he formed a crucial part of their attack that finished the regular season at the top of the Southern Conference standings. His standout performance came in the first match of the Atlantic Conference Semi-Finals against the Empire State Titans, dismissing Christopher Barnwell and Trevon Griffith on his way to 3/31 off four overs.
Vatsal Vaghela (Golden State Grizzlies)
M: 17 | Wkts: 29 | Ave: 11.41 | Econ: 5.49 | BBI: 4/13 | SR: 12.5 | 4WI: 1
The second of two U21 players named in the MiLC Domestic Team of the Tournament, the young left-arm spinner from the Bay Area was unstoppable in the early stages of the season, collecting 16 wickets in his first 6 games including a player of the match performance of 4/13 in the season opener against the Seattle Thunderbolts. Nobody had more wickets in the Pacific Conference during the 2021 season, with Vaghela putting his name firmly up in lights for higher honors.
Karthik Gattepalli (Houston Hurricanes)
M: 17 | Wkts: 24 | Ave: 16.38 | Econ: 6.14 | BBI: 4/12 | SR: 16.0 | 4WI: 2
In a country that has an abundance of left-arm finger spinners, Karthik Gattepalli added his name to this list during the 2021 MiLC season. Gattepalli was a consistent wicket-taker for the Hurricanes, collecting two four-wicket hauls and two player of the match awards, on his way to 24 wickets for the tournament. He tormented batters across the Pacific Conference, taking at least one wicket in 11 of his total 17 appearances for the season.
Laksh Parikh (Austin Athletics)
M: 16 | Wkts: 20 | Ave: 15.75 | Econ: 6.85 | BBI: 4/22 | SR: 13.8 | 4WI: 1
Laksh Parikh was one of the key contributors with the ball for the Austin Athletics on their way to the top of the Central Division, taking 20 wickets in just 16 matches throughout the season. The young left-arm seam bowler started the season on fire, taking 11 wickets through his first five matches including a player of the match performance of 3/10 against the Chicago Catchers in Round 2.
