IPL 2020: When the IPL first began in 2008, the general consensus was that it was just a fun concept to attract crowds and nobody expected it to impact cricket in the way it did. Fast forward 13 years and not only has it been a mammoth success but it has also provided great exposure at the highest level for so many talented youngsters. In this article, we will look at 5 exciting young talents in the IPL who have the potential to become a star in the near future,
Age criteria:- below 25 years and less than 30 games in IPL
Devdutt Padikkal
Padikkal hogged the limelight in the 2019 Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament with consistent performances as an opener. He scored 580 runs and averaged 64.4 at a stunning strike rate of 175.8.
Preparations in RCB camp seem to indicate that Padikkal might take Parthiv’s opening spot in IPL 2020 with ABD donning the gloves. His fluent and fearless stroke-making could be a key weapon for RCB in the power play overs.
Rahul Chahar
Albeit making his debut in the 2018 edition, Rahul Chahar rose to prominence with a string of impressive performances in the 2019 edition, thus cementing his spot in the Mumbai Indians starting lineup.
He took 13 wickets and was the third most economical bowler(minimum 20 overs) in the tournament. He will be raring to bowl IPL 2020 on the dry tracks of UAE and emulate his performance in the previous edition
Tom Banton
Banton became a phenomenon after his blistering performances for Somerset in the 2019 Vitality Blast. He followed it up with a hugely impressive BBL campaign where he scored 223 runs in just 7 innings at a strike rate of 176.98.
Although he might not start for KKR given that they already have four world-class foreigners, he might come in handy in case of an injury. There are high chances that Banton will lit up IPL 2020 with his fours and sixes.
Prithvi Shaw: IPL 2020 is very important for the young dasher
Already an established opener for Delhi Capitals, Shaw will be looking to break some records and add more consistency to his game in this edition. Both his average and strike rate went down in the 2019 IPL compared to the 2018 edition and he warranted unwanted attention last year due to a one year ban for substance abuse.
IPL 2020 could be the season where his mentality will be tested and a strong performance could result in another call-up to the national team.
Shubman Gill: The biggest attraction of IPL 2020
Touted to be India’s next batting superstar by many experts and fans alike, Gill is yet to feature consistently for the national team. He has been outstanding for India-A and played the role of a sheet anchor for KKR last season.
It is almost confirmed that he will be KKR’s opener this season with Uthappa departing and Russell hoping to move up the order. All eyes will be on Shubman Gill in IPL 2020.
Quick Read: 4 Big Players Who Are Unavailable For CSK In The Opening Match
