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India's future fantastic four impresses England's Billings

Kolkata: England limited-overs opener Sam Billings cannot help gushing over the quartet of highly talented Indian players he shares the dressing room with in Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Delhi Daredevils, even though they are currently at the bottom of the table. The Kent-born is firm in his belief that Sanju Samson, Karun Nair, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer are the most exciting young players India have produced in the recent past. "Samson, Nair and Pant are the most exciting young players India have produced," Billings, part of England's 15-member Champions Trophy squad, said in an interview.

"Shreyas Iyer as well. They are four fantastic players. Karun had a bit more exposure to international cricket with obviously a 303 ... Sanju has lit up the IPL. He has scored a brilliant hundred this year. Rishabh is an amazing talent as well. "Shreyas scored a double hundred in one of the warm-up games against Australia," said Billings, who has played nine One-Dayers and 10 T20 Internationals for England. The 22-year-old Samson is Delhi's highest scorer at the moment, aggregating 289 runs in eight outings this year, with his 63-ball 102 against Rising Pune Supergiant being the highlight. Young wicketkeeper-batsman Pant has produced a few good performances with the bat this year.

The 19-year-old's 16-ball 38 against Kolkata Knight Riders at home was a high point of his season along with the 36-ball 57 versus Royal Challengers Bangalore that reaffirmed the potential of the southpaw, who debuted for India this February. Karnataka's Karun Nair has had a quiet IPL so far but the right-hander's unbeaten 303 against England in the fifth Test in Chennai last December had got everyone talking. Twenty two-year-old Mumbaikar Shreyas Iyer had scripted a brilliant double century (202) against Australia in a tour game in February leading up to the four-match
Test series.
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