The cricket world is witnessing a significant transformation as new talents emerge, reshaping the future of the sport. 2024 saw many talents emerge across formats, ready to take over the baton from the veteran stars in 2025 and years to come.

Asia continued to produce some of the most promising talent in the world, two of which could form the future generation of 'Fab Four' batters, replacing legendary names like Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root and Kane Williamson, who are in the final stages of their career.

Some promising talent have also been unearthed from England as they seek to rebuild following disappointing runs in the ICC World Test Championship, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 and ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

New Zealand and West Indies also saw some talent making a name for themselves amid largely disappointing ICC World Test Championship and T20 World Cup outings. South Africa also had a player who made huge strides this year.

With the ICC Champions Trophy to be held early this year and almost every major team in a transitional phase, expect these young talents to finally show what they are truly made of. Here is a look at the cricketers who stepped to cement their spots in international cricket:

10 Breakout Stars in International Cricket in 2024

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal: After arriving to the international stage in 2023, the Indian opener has emerged as a powerhouse across all formats, showcasing his ability to dominate top bowlers under challenging conditions in 2024. His impressive performances have cemented his role as a cornerstone of the Indian cricket team.

To a large extent, he has succeeded, top-scoring for India in international cricket this year, with 1,771 runs in 23 matches and 37 innings at an average of 52.08, with three tons and 11 fifties.

2. Tristan Stubbs: The South African batter has made a remarkable entry into the international arena, drawing parallels with the legendary AB de Villiers thanks to his outstanding all-around skills.

Stubbs has demonstrated his prowess in domestic and international arenas, hinting at a bright future ahead for South African cricket. In 33 international matches in 2024 year, he has made 1,173 runs at an average of 39.10, with three centuries and three fifties in 37 innings. His best score is 122*.

3. Kamindu Mendis: The Sri Lankan has made headlines, especially in the Test format, achieving a milestone that aligns him with the great Don Bradman as the second-fastest player to reach 1,000 Test runs. This achievement underscores Mendis' potential to elevate Sri Lankan cricket.

In nine Tests in 2024, Kamindu took the cricketing world by storm due to his unbelievable conversion rate, scoring 1,049 runs in 16 innings at an average of 74.62. Overall in 33 matches and 36 innings last year, he made 1,451 runs at an average of 50.03, with five centuries and five fifties, with best score of 182*.

In England, the search for new heroes has unearthed talents like Jamie Smith, Jacob Bethell, and Gus Atkinson. Smith, stepping into the void wicketkeeper-batter role in Tests, while Bethell and Atkinson have shown their mettle in all-around performance and bowling, respectively.

4. Jamie Smith: The 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batter has proved to be quite an upgrade over Jonny Bairstow, offering not only a fast scoring rate, brute six hitting, but also a fine ability to bat with tailenders.

In nine Tests, he scored 637 runs in 15 innings at an average of 42.46, with a strike rate of 72.30. He scored a century and four fifties, with best score of 111. In seven ODIs as well, he has made 133 runs at an average of 22.16, with best score of 49 in six innings.

5. Gus Atkinson: The pacer of England has continued to impress, especially in Test cricket, showcasing his skills in both batting and bowling. He is considered a future star, following the legacy of James Anderson.

In 11 Tests last year, Atkinson took 52 wickets at an average of 22.15, with best figures of 7/45. He secured three five-wicket hauls and one ten-fer. With the bat, he has made 352 runs in 16 innings, averaging 23.46, with a century to his name. His strike rate is 79.10.

6. Jacob Bethell: The youngster made his debut across all formats for Three Lions and has the makings of a future star, averaging above 50 in Tests and T20Is so far. Overall in 18 international matches and 19 innings, Bethell has made 600 runs, averaging 42.00 and with a strike rate of over 91. He has scored six fifties so far with the best score of 96.

Pakistan's cricket scene is buzzing with the emergence of Saim Ayub, known for his aggressive batting style. Ayub's performances signal a potential shift in Pakistan's cricket strategy, offering a solution to their conservative batting approach.

7. Saim Ayub: Amid conversations of players like Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan dragging Pakistan cricket down with a highly conservative, milestone-oriented brand of cricket, this left-handed stroke player in his early 20s could very well be the answer to his nation's needs.

In 35 international matches last year, Ayub has scored 1,254 runs at an average of 33.00, a strike rate of over 89, with three centuries and five fifties in 41 innings and his best score being 113*.

Abhishek Sharma from India has also made waves, particularly in T20 cricket, with his explosive opening batting. While his ability in T20Is is undeniable, achieving consistency remains a challenge.

8. Abhishek Sharma: The left-hander finished as Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) second-highest run-getter and overall 10th in IPL 2024, with 484 runs at an average of 32.26, with three half-centuries in 16 innings, a best score of 75* and a strike rate of above 204.

Following his great run in IPL, Abhishek earned his maiden call on the Zimbabwe tour. However, his returns have been inconsistent, standing at 256 runs in 11 innings at an average of 23.27, a strike rate of over 171, with a century and a fifty and just three scores of 20 or more.

Adding to the list of emerging talents, New Zealand's William O'Rourke has made a name for himself as a promising pacer, playing a pivotal role in New Zealand's cricketing achievements, including a historic series win in India.

9. William O'Rourke: With the golden generation of Kiwi pacers: Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner and Matt Henry slowly riding into the sunset, Kiwis have a worthy heir to these stars in the form of O'Rourke, the 23-year-old, six-foot-six inch tall pacer who took 40 wickets in 13 Tests at an average of 24.45, with best figures of 5/34.

Another promising talent from India, Nitish Kumar Reddy, has shown potential as an all-rounder, making significant contributions in his debut year. His performances indicate his capability to become an integral part of the team's future.

10. Nitish Kumar Reddy: The 21-year-old all-rounder's rise has been one of the heartwarming stories of last year. After a breakout IPL 2024 season with Sunrisers Hyderabad, Nitish made his India debut against Bangladesh in October, slamming 74 of 34 balls.

After being selected into the Indian squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy despite his inexperience and not-so-exciting red-ball stats, he proved his doubters wrong with a dream series so far, having made 294 runs, including some fiery cameos and a memorable century at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during the Boxing Day Test.

The emergence of these young talents from different cricketing nations points to a dynamic and evolving landscape. As the sport continues to grow, the future of international cricket appears both competitive and thrilling. With the ICC Champions Trophy approaching and teams undergoing transitions, the stage is set for these young stars to showcase their full potential.