Meet the Essendon Dowling Shield squad looking to defend its title

Essendon has assembled a strong squad to defend its Dowling Shield title. Get an in-depth look at each player here.

Essendon claimed the Dowling Shield in 2022-23.

Essendon is eyeing back-to-back Dowling Shield titles.

The Bombers broke a 36-year drought last season and have assembled another strong squad for the new under-16 tournament.

The team will be coached by two up-and-coming young coaches in Archit Bhatia and Jasper Wilson-Keir.

Bhatia played a major role in last season’s triumph, scoring 52 and taking 2-29, and is doing his Level 2 coaching accreditation.

Both and and Wilson-Keir - who has Level 1 accreditation - play in Essendon’s Third XI.

Wilson-Keir takes us through the 16 young guns picked to defend the Bombers’ title.

VIRAAJ AULAKH

Tall, rangy player. A powerful batsman, pretty destructive, so he’ll be our strike bat. He made a hundred in a club T20 a few weeks ago, so he’s very impressive.

SIMRTH SINGH GILL

All-rounder. Powerful batsman, moves his feet well and has all the shots in the book.

NAVJOT BHARDWAJ

A master with the ball. Loves his off-cutter, got all the tricks. He’s short but he skids them through and will be very good.

LUAY MIRAZ

Our strike fast bowler. He’s a tall kid and clocked 125kmh, which is good pace for a 15-year-old. He’s be a force to be reckoned with.

KRISHNA MOHAN

Good all-rounder. A contender to be batting in the top order and bowling in the first 10 overs as well.

ANDREW THAKUR

Medium pace and right-hand bat. Gets the job done, great technique, rotates the strike well and doesn’t chew up too many dot balls.

RISON WICKRAMASURENDRA

Gun right-arm leg-spinner. Did a pre-season with Essendon seniors. Has good control, good flight and can bowl the wrong’un.

DEVASSES BRAR

Really good against spin so middle order will be his forte. Rotates the strike and can hit a big ball.

AADHI BHANDARY

One of the younger players but very capable. The underdogs are always under-rated and I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do.

MAAN SINGH

Wicketkeeper-batsman but can also bowl pretty good offies. Good technique, doesn’t hit too many balls in the air, just good cricket shots.

KANISH GUPTA

Left-arm leggie and good batsman. Never seen a kid that young with such good flight. Will be difficult to face, especially in T20s.

ADVITH GODALA

A wicketkeeper but a really solid bat, he opens for his home club. The technique when you watch him, he’s really disciplined and I don’t think I’ve seen him get out in the nets.

PRABHSIMRAN SINGH

Really tall boy, long levers, uses his crease well and swings it as well. Middle-order bat and really good to spin.

SAMIN SHAFQUAT

Bowls a little bit but batting wise, plays the swinging ball well and has all the shots – can play 360 (degrees).

VANSH SANDHU

Swings it a lot and loves to have a stick. A fast bowler who can handle himself with the bat.

MEHAR SINGH BANIPAL

Was injured at the start of the season but has come good now. A tall off-spinner, who will provide a solid option to go to with the ball.