The rise of the next-gen Fab 4: Kane Williamson names his picks

The sport is entering a new era, with the younger generation not just stepping up but already stamping their mark. The stars of the past are slowly fading out, as the current lot of fans have witnessed a splendid overlap of seasoned experience and raw talent. Now, as the raw talents shape up to lead the game forward, the previous lot are making their way back after etching their names in the annals of cricket. Virat Kohli, a modern-day legend, not just for India but world cricket, recently announced his retirement from Test cricket. At 36, ODIs remain the only playground for the former all-format captain of India. His contemporaries, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root, are also in the twilight of their careers.

Kane Williamson lists his picks to form the next batch of 'Fab 4'

Steve Smith has exited ODIs, Joe Root no longer features in the shortest format, and Kane Williamson has faded out of New Zealand's T20I setup. Together, Williamson, Virat Kohli, Smith, and Root took the game by storm. Their exploits for their respective teams broke records, as they showcased the ability to carry forward the legacy across formats. Meanwhile, their performances in the original format, red-ball cricket, earned them the title of the Fab 4. Now, as the game evolves, there remains a question about which players have the ability to keep the legacy of the 'Fab 4' alive.

Who better than one of the Fab 4 to name the next batch? Kane Williamson recently named his picks from the younger generation who show signs of taking the league forward. The former New Zealand skipper identified four players he believes could step into the shoes of his generation’s giants, and interestingly, two of them hail from India. The NZ star named his compatriot Rachin Ravindra, along with Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Harry Brook, in his list. Moreover, Williamson also included Cameron Green in his version of the stars who could lead the game in the years to come.

"The players that come to mind in terms of multi-format are Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rachin Ravindra and Harry Brook," Williamson said, while adding a fifth member. "And also, Cameron Green. Those are all outstanding players and have shown fantastic moments in all formats. All young, and their games are just growing."

While still miles away from touching the likes of Kohli and Williamson, the next-gen has started already. Shubman Gill has succeeded Rohit Sharma as India's new Test Captain. The 25-year-old would kick off his captaincy stint with the India vs England series, starting on June 20. Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal has already cemented his spot as India's primary opener in the longer format. With a century on debut and a historic 700-plus-run series against England at home, Jaiswal has already showcased his potential. His performance in the Border Gavaskar Trophy only amplified his belonging in the Indian team.