The biggest extravaganza of Indian cricket is all set to begin on Friday (March 31), when the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicks off with Chennai Super Kings taking on Gujarat Giants at the Narendra Modi Stadium in the opening game.
IPL is not only about the Team India superstars and the big international names who come in to represent the different franchises. Over the years, a lot of young Indian talents have showcased their talents on the biggest stage, and went on to become mainstays and big names in Indian cricket at the international stage. Players like Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah came into the limelight with their IPL performances.
Before the start of the season, here are four emerging Indian talents to look forward to in IPL 2023:
Arjun Tendulkar (Mumbai Indians)
Arjun Tendulkar, the son of the great Sachin Tendulkar, was roped in by the Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2021 auction, but till date has not played a single game for the franchise. With the absence of Jasprit Bumrah due to injury, and no such Indian pacer announced as his replacement, the all-rounder might finally get his shot in the big league this season. Arjun shifted base to Goa from Mumbai this season for more opportunities in first class-cricket. He scored a century on his Ranji Trophy debut for Goa, thus emulating his father’s elusive feat.
Yash Dhull (Delhi Capitals)
India’s U-19 captain Yash Dhull enjoyed a great season in the domestic circuit this season. He scored 363 runs in 8 T20 games this season at a strike rate of 131. Even though, he did not make his debut in IPL 2022, the form that he is in warrants a place in the Delhi Capitals starting lineup this season.
N Jagadeesan (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Kolkata Knight Riders bought Tamil Nadu’s N Jagadeesan for Rs 90 lakh in the IPL 2023 auction, but it looked like he would be used sporadically throughout the season. However, with the injury to Shreyas Iyer, it looks like Jagadeesan will be an important part of the KKR batting order. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy this season, Jagadeesan slammed 830 runs in 8 matches, including a 277-run innings which entered into the record books as the highest individual score in List-A cricket.
Mukesh Kumar (Delhi Capitals)
Bengal’s pace sensation Mukesh Kumar was picked up in the IPL auction for a whopping price of Rs 5.5 crores by the Delhi Capitals. In the Ranji Trophy this season the fast bowlers picked up 25 wickets in 23 T20 domestic T20 matches at a steady economy rate of 7.20. Even though he got into the India squad for the South Africa ODI series at home in October 2022, he is yet to burst into the scene, and the IPL might just provide him the limelight.
