Gulsan Jha (Nepali: गुलशन झा; born 17 February 2006) is a Nepalese cricketer, who plays as a bowler for Nepal national team.[1][2][3] He became the third youngest ODI player when he made his ODI debut against the United States at just 15 years and 212 days of age.[4] Aged 18, he became the first player in 53 years of ODI history to take a 5-wicket haul and score a fifty in the same match before the age of 20, and the first Nepali player to achieve this feat in an ODI.

Gulsan Jha
गुलशन झा
Personal information
Full name
Gulshan Kumar Jha
Born (2006-02-17) 17 February 2006 (age 18)[1][2]
Malangawa, Sarlahi[2]
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
BattingLeft-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium
RoleAll-rounder
International information
National side
ODI debut (cap 27)17 September 2021 v USA
Last ODI22 September 2024 v Canada
T20I debut (cap 39)19 February 2022 v Philippines
Last T20I20 October 2024 v USA
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2021-presentNepal Police Club
2021Kathmandu Kings XI
Career statistics
Competition ODI T20I
Matches 30 38
Runs scored 616 477
Batting average 30.80 22.71
100s/50s 0/4 0/1
Top score 67 * 54
Balls bowled 855 441
Wickets 28 22
Bowling average 30.82 24.22
5 wickets in innings 1
10 wickets in match
Best bowling 5/47 2/11
Catches/stumpings 7/- 10/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 26 October 2024

International career

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Jha became viral sensation in social media after his bowling performance in local domestic tournament of Nepal.[5][6] After playing just two matches in the domestic tournament, Jha was named in Nepal's One Day International (ODI) squad for their series against Papua New Guinea in Oman.[7] He was also named in Nepal's squad for round six of the 2019–2023 ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 tournament, also in Oman.[8] He made his ODI debut on 17 September 2021, for Nepal against the United States.[9] He was also named in Nepal U19s squad for U19 Asia Cup.[10]

In February 2022, he was named in Nepal's Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Global Qualifier A tournament in Oman.[11] He made his T20I debut on 19 February 2022, for Nepal against the Philippines.[12]

Nepal national cricket team booked a place in the Asia Cup 2023. On 30 August 2023, Nepal's national cricket team played against Pakistan for the first time in the Asia Cup 2023. This marked their debut in the Asia Cup tournament. Then, on 4 September 2023, Nepal played against India at Pallekele Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka. Jha scored 23 runs in 35 balls including three boundaries and was dismissed by Mohammed Siraj. He was selected as best young player of tournament in ICC T20 world cup qualifier on 5 November 2023.

In May 2024, the cricketer was chosen to represent Nepal in the upcoming 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament. This prestigious international cricket competition features the best T20 teams from around the world, and Nepal's selection of this player indicates his strong performance and potential to contribute to the national team's campaign.[13]

Records and milestones

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ODI

  • 3rd Youngest player to Debut in ODI - 15y 212d [14]
  • 4th Youngest player to take Five-Wickets in an innings in ODIs at the age of 18y 214d on 18 Sep 2024 against Oman taking 5 wickets and giving 47 runs[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Gulsan Jha". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Gulshan Jha". Cricnepal.com. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  3. ^ "गुलशन झा: नेपाली क्रिकेट टोलीमा 'सुवास' थपिँदै". BBC News नेपाली. 4 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Records | One-Day Internationals | Individual records (captains, players, umpires) | Youngest players | ESPNcricinfo.com". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  5. ^ Dhital, Roshan (13 July 2021). "Young Gulshan's revelation from obscurity". CricketingNepal. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  6. ^ "Gulshan Jha: Nepal's 17-year-old fast bowler shows promise for the future - OnlineKhabar English News". Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  7. ^ "Nepal announces squad for the CWCL2 series". Emerging Cricket. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Nepal announces squad for the CWCL2 series". Emerging Cricket. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  9. ^ "40th Match (D/N), Al Amerat, Sep 17 2021, ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Nepal lose to Kuwait, bow out of ACC U-19 winless". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  11. ^ "Nepal name final squad for T20 Global Qualifiers". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Nepal loses six wickets against India". myRepublica. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Nepal has announced their Squad for T20 World Cup". ScoreWaves. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  14. ^ "ODI matches | Individual records (captains, players, umpires) | Youngest players". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  15. ^ https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/youngest-player-to-take-five-wickets-in-an-innings-283797
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