The Indian Premier League is a tournament that has turned many dreams into reality. A lot of new faces take the stage and impress with their skills and hard work, and IPL 2019 is going to be no different in that regard. The event has already turned into a launching pad for young guns who aim to get better whilst hoping that they turn out for the national team soon.
Players like Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal and Rishabh Pant are some stars who have successfully made use of their stint in the IPL to become regulars in the Indian team. Let us take a look at some uncapped stars who will be eager to shine this season.
Shivam Dube
Dube was one of the most sought after players in the IPL auction that was held in December 2018. The 25-year old burst into the Indian domestic scene last season when he smashed veteran bowler Pravin Tambe for five successive sixes in a game during the Mumbai T20 league. He was in the news yet again when he hit five sixes again, this time in a Ranji Trophy match against Baroda on the eve of the auction.
His exploits had already forced Sunil Gavaskar to comment that Dube deserved a national call-up, and hence it was already expected that the player would attract big bids. During the auctions, the Mumbaikar was sold for INR 5 crores to Royal Challengers Bangalore, which was 25 times his base price of 20 lakhs.
Apart from hitting sixes at will, Dube is also a more-than-handy pacer who bowls in the 130s. He has already taken 14 T20, 23 List-A and 28 FC wickets, averaging 23, 26.60 and 22.57, respectively.
Varun Chakravarthy
A mystery bowler, Varun Chakravarthy shot to fame during the Siechem Madurai Panthers’s winning campaign in the Tamil Nadu Premier League 2018. He claimed 9 wickets in the tournament and conceded only 4.7 runs per over, which attracted attention.
He followed it up with a successful outing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Tamil Nadu, picking up 22 wickets in 9 games. His consistent performances led to him being picked for the Ranji Trophy in the recently-concluded season. Chakravarthy’s seven variations and his ability to understand batsmen won him many accolades. He was picked up by Kings XI Punjab for a whopping 8.4 crores INR, 42 times his base price of 20 lakhs.
Prabhsimran Singh
Prabhsimran Singh is an 18-year-old explosive wicketkeeper-batsman who idolises Adam Gilchrist and has moulded his game after the legendary Australian. He was bought by Kings XI Punjab for 4.8 crore INR. He had impressed with his aggressive knock of 298 from only 301 deliveries in an under-23 tournament for Punjab last year. Though Punjab already have KL Rahul as the primary keeper in their squad, the youngster could get a chance as a specialist batter and he will be keen to seize his chance.
Ishan Kishan
Kishan might be one of the better known faces that will play in the IPL this season, but he is definitely underrated. Kishan opened the batting for Mumbai Indians last season and notched up 275 runs at an average of close to 30, scoring two fifties. However, what makes him so dangerous is his strike-rate, which was touching 150 in 2018.
Kishan has been in good form in the lead-up to the IPL, having done well in the India ‘A’ tours, the Ranji Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He will be one of the faces to watch out for.
Prayas Ray Barman
The Bengal spinner shot to fame last year when he picked up 11 wickets at a stunning economy rate of 4.45 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The 16-year old had an impressive Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as well, picking up 4 wickets from 4 games at an average of 16. Barman was bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for the upcoming season and his biggest challenge will be to fare well on a track that has traditionally been a run-feast.
Anmolpreet Singh
Prabhsimran Singh’s cousin Anmolpreet Singh will turn out for Mumbai Indians after impressing in his maiden Ranji Trophy season in 2017/18. The Punjabi had smashed 753 runs then, at a stunning average of 125.50, which included two double centuries and one hundred, to end the season as the fourth highest run-getter.
He had a below-par Syed Mushtaq Ali season for his state, where he could amass only 27 runs in 4 innings, but he is massively talented and the franchise should realise the same and give him an extended run so he can prove his skills on a global platform.