By Denzil Fernandes
Abu Dhabi, Sep 30: The 13th Indian Premier League (IPL) played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is creating waves for various reasons. First and foremost is the sterling display by the young and budding cricketers who are performing so well for the various franchises in great fashion. Each and every single franchise has done their homework at the auction of players and selected some of the finest and promising youngsters to play for them. And the young Turks have repaid the trust reposed with performances that are turning heads at the IPL.
There are so many top players from various countries plying their trade in the IPL in the UAE. Well known stars like Warner, Cummins, Smith, Gayle, Morgan, Butler, Bairstow, Watson, Du Plessis, Quinton de Kok, Pollard, Russel, Sunil Narine, Rabada, Ngidi, Boult and so many others like them are making the cash-rich IPL a tournament worth talking about.
This is apart from the mega Indian stars like Kohli, Rohit, Rahul, Shami, Dhoni, Ashwin, Dhawan and others in the IPL.
But India’s ‘undergraduates’ or the young Turks do not want to be intimidated and are showing signs of steel to outperform their seniors. The success in the Under 19 World Cup for India has propelled unbelievable talent to the fore. So much so, India’s stock of players is good enough to put up a second string of performers to challenge Kohli’s national side. The young boys in the middle are sparing no efforts whether it is bowling, batting or fielding.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have probably recruited the best young players in Shivam Mavi, Shubman Gill, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Prasidh Krishna and Nitish Rana. Shubman is already projected as a future India star. He was also part of the under-19 World Cup-winning Indian team in 2018 along with Prithvi Shaw and others. His stylish batting is a delight and promise of more for Indian cricket. Other youngsters like Mavi and Nagarkoti have already shown their keen presence for KKR while Prasidh is waiting in the wings to jump at the opportunity when called. Yet another star in the making is stocky Nitish Rana. When he is in the mood, Nitish Rana can make any big total look small. The ‘lefty’ has enough power-packed shots to beat the field.
Despite an array of top performers on their side, Mumbai Indians (MI) has invested in youngsters like Anmolpreet Singh, Prince Balwant Rai Singh, Digvijay Deshmukh, Jayant Yadav, Anukul Roy, Ishan Kishan and Aditya Tare. They have players like Bumrah and Pandya brothers who started with MI earlier as youngsters and have now become permanent names in the playing XI. Young Suryakumar Yadav has also shown his value to the team with his brilliant batting. In the match against RCB Kishan exhibited his six-hitting show to score 99 runs for MI.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has young stars like Narayan Jagadeesan, K M Asif, Monu Kumar and Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore. Sai Kishore especially has been making the headlines with his frugal bowling and wicket-taking abilities. Spinner R Ashwin was also given a boost by CSK before he went on to play for other teams like Punjab and Delhi. Their two top and experienced stars Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh had to withdraw from the IPL due to ‘personal reasons’ which was a setback for CSK. But they have found in Rituraj Gaikwad a promising opener who may be an ideal replacement. However, in the matches he has played so far, Rituraj has shown his fondness to get ‘run out’ in both the matches! He has to curb his instincts and discipline himself to seal a permanent place on the CSK side.
Devdutt Padikkal of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has already made it big with his spectacular batting as an opener and one expects the young Karnataka lad to be in the national reckoning sooner than later. Padikkal scored heavily in local cricket last year and one hopes he will reproduce his form for RCB. Others in the RCB squad include Gurkeerat Mann, Navdeep Saini, Pawan Negi, Shivam Dube and Pavan Deshpande. Gurkeerat is reputed to be a big hitter just like Yuvraj Singh but has to wait for his turn to play.
Yet another lad to impress in the UAE is Ravi Bishnoi turning out for King’s XI Punjab. Bishnoi was the highest wicket-taker in the Under-19 World Cup 2020 in South Africa and has continued the good work in the IPL. His team’s coach and former India captain Anil Kumble will surely show Bishnoi a few tricks having been a top leg spinner. Young J Suchith and all-rounder K Gowtham are also in the Punjab team waiting to parade their talent. Gowtham was with Rajasthan Royals for two years before his own statemate and Punjab coach Anil Kumble picked him up this time at the auction.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has planned well and specially earmarked thundering batter Priyam Garg who captained India’s Under 19 squad for the World Cup in South Africa. Apart from him, SRH also has Virat Singh who bats like Virat Kohli. The youngster from Jharkhand can turn the match with his power-packed batting in the middle order.
With one opening slot blocked by Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan for Delhi Capitals, the other has been reserved for Under-19 World Cup-winning team in 2018 Prithvi Shah. Prithvi has progressed into the senior ranks as a fine opener despite some hiccups in between. He shows plenty of maturity for his young shoulders and can score quickly too. They can also call upon Haryana captain Harshal Patel who is a utility all-rounder. Harshal can seam the ball well and has developed good batting skills as a big hitter.
Selected by Rajasthan Royals in a hurry, young Riyan Parag is also an Under-19 World Cup winner and was in the same team which had Prithvi Shah as captain and Shubman Gill. Riyan has already developed the winning mentality and is being groomed as an effective all-rounder. RR skipper Steve Smith has an array of promising players at his disposal and it remains to be seen when Riyan will fit into the playing XI.
Another upcoming star graduating from the Under-19 World Cup 2020 is Kartik Tyagi whose ability to hurl the cherry at an astonishing pace has been well noticed by everyone. He has been knocking on gaining entry into big-time cricket and it is a matter of time for the young lad.
RR has very smartly grabbed Yashasvi Jaiswal who was the top scorer in 2020 Under 19 World Cup. He has already got a chance to open for RR in the first match against CSK in the UAE. Young and full of energy, Jaiswal is now improving his bowling as a spinner which gives his team to use his bowling when required.
Apart from some who have been mentioned, there are so many other youngsters in the pipeline waiting for the BIG call. With so many talent spotting academies mushrooming all over the country, every other youngster wants to be a Tendulkar today.
It is really admirable that each and every franchise had taken the responsibility of adding promising players into their set up. With an eye ahead, all these young Turks have a lucrative future to look forward to. Without a doubt, the IPL is a springboard of opportunities and fortunes for those who come good. Indian cricket is blessed to have such a galaxy of rising stars which augurs well for the country’s prominent position in world cricket.