The California teenage wicketkeeper was a dominant force with the bat in the second half of 2021. 

Photo credit: Peter Della Penna

By Peter Della Penna (Twitter @PeterDellaPenna)
 
DreamCricket is once again celebrating USA’s top performers from the calendar year through the New Inning Foundation USA Cricket Awards. This edition of the awards recognizes performances in 2021. 
 
The New Inning Foundation USA Junior Cricketer of the Year is California’s Rahul Jariwala. The wicketkeeper started the year in inauspicious fashion with just 58 runs in four innings at the USA U19 National Championships held in April 2021. 
 
However, Jariwala was red hot in the second half of the year, both in franchise cricket as well as at USA Cricket’s Men’s National Championships. Playing for Silicon Valley Strikers in the inaugural edition of the Minor League Cricket T20 franchise tournament, Jariwala scored 308 runs in 15 innings for the eventual tournament champions. 
 
With the ICC Americas U19 World Cup Qualifier canceled, the USA U19 squad’s only major event participation in the year came in the 2021 USA Men’s National Championships held in Texas in November. Jariwala stood up to the challenge against the best men’s players in the country, notching two centuries while finishing as the event’s leading scorer with 251 runs in four innings. 
 
Jariwala’s successful year ended with his maiden callup to the USA Men’s ODI squad for the end of year series against Ireland in Florida. Unfortunately, the series was canceled due to Covid protocols. However, Jariwala remains in line for a men’s ODI debut in May 2022 after being named once again in USA’s 14-man squad for the back-to-back Cricket World Cup League Two tri-series to be held in Texas. Outside of cricket, the 17-year-old Jariwala is currently enrolled as a senior at Irvington High School in his hometown of Fremont, California.
 
In recognition of his achievement, Jariwala will receive a plaque as well as a $500 DreamCricket.com Pavilion Shop gift card sponsored by New Inning Foundation.