The mega Indian Premier League (IPL) has witnessed the rise of countless cricketing stalwarts since its inception in 2008. It goes without saying that the cash-rich league is blessed with an incredible pool of talented cricketers from Indian domestic cricket. Many of them would feature the youngsters who would go on to pave a bright future for themselves in international cricket. 

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Although the IPL is primarily known for offering insane levels of entertainment to its viewers, the league also brings ground-breaking young talent to the fore which in turn benefits Indian cricket as a whole. All the entertainment and thrill would be vastly missing if it had not been due to these young newcomers. From hard-hitting batters to crafty bowlers and dynamic all-rounders, these youngsters would often join the party with an array of skills under their belt. On the back of jaw-dropping price tags, match-winning performances from previous seasons, and untapped potential, these players have often captured the attention of fans and pundits alike.

As the excitement builds around the upcoming IPL season, let’s take a moment to identify some notable newcomers who emerged through the ranks over the years to become a force to reckon with in world cricket.

Jaspirt Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah gained prominence in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after being identified by the Mumbai Indians (MI) and subsequently making his IPL debut in 2013. His distinctive bowling technique and speed attracted the attention of John Wright, the former head coach of Team India, who was serving as the coach of MI at that time. Bumrah made an immediate impact in his first IPL game against RCB in 2013, picking up the wicket of Virat Kohli. On the back of his sensational exploits in the IPL, Bumrah made his international debut in a T20I against Australia in 2016. Fast forward to today, Bumrah is renowned as the world's most lethal bowler across all formats. 

Arshdeep Singh

Arshdeep Singh's rise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been marked by his consistent performances and hard work. After putting on fine performances both in the domestic and international circuits, Ashdeep has now become one of the most expensive Indian pacers in the IPL's history. The left-arm pacer made his IPL debut in 2019 and has been a key player for the Punjab Kings (PBKS) ever since. As the years rolled on, Arshdeep's performances in the IPL experienced an upward trajectory. With every passing edition, he was leaving an impact. Arshdeep's performances in the IPL led to him being selected for the India squad in the 2022 T20 World Cup. Arshdeep finished the 2024 T20 World Cup campaign as the joint-highest wicket-taker with Fazal Farooqi and has been awarded the T20I Men's Cricketer of the Year award by the ICC.   

Ruturaj Gaikwad

Ruturaj Gaikwad's rise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) was marked by his debut in 2020, his role in CSK's 2021 title win, and his appointment as captain in 2024. Gaikwad made his IPL debut in 2020 for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He endured an ordinary first season where he played six games and scored three fifties and two ducks. But Gaikwad's debut showcased his potential to perform exponentially well on the big stage. In 2021, he played an instrumental role in CSK winning their fourth IPL title and was also named the Emerging Player of the Year. In 2024, Gaikwad made further advancements in his cricketing career by replacing long-standing CSK skipper MS Dhoni.  The youngster has continued to grow in stature thanks to some noteworthy performances in the IPL and is fighting to the teeth to get through a start-studded Indian lineup.

Nitish Reddy

Nitish Reddy's meteoric rise in international cricket can be vastly attributed to the time he spent with the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). A rare seam-bowling all-rounder hailing from the state of Andhra Pradesh, Nitish instantly became a batting hit for SRH. Although he endured a fruitless debut season in 2023 where he bowled five wicketless overs across two games and did not get a chance to bat, Nitesh was able to leave an impact in the 2024 season. He had to wait for the fourth game for an opportunity, and the youngster from Andhra hasn’t looked back since. However, the biggest moment of his cricketing career came during the third Test in the BGT series where he scored his maiden Test ton in a rain-hit affair to help India eke out a draw at the Gabba. That ton led the world to take cognizance of this young all-rounder. 

Harshit Rana

Harshit Rana emerged as a notable talent in Indian cricket after being bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 2022 IPL auction. He made his IPL debut in the 2022 season and went on to win the IPL in 2024. After notching up some breathtaking performances in domestic cricket, Harshit was bought by Delhi Capitals in 2022 but he later switched allegiance a couple of years later and played a pivotal role in propelling KKR to a title win in 2024. Subsequently, he was handed a Test debut in the Border Gavaskar Trophy series where he returned formidable figures of 3-48 in the Perth Test leading India to a famous 295-run win.

Umran Malik

Young Indian bowling sensation Umran Malik rose to fame from almost nowhere during a 2021 IPL match, where he impressed one and all by bowling at speeds rarely seen in the history of Indian cricket. The rising talent from J&K stole the headlines almost imminently after making his debut in the 2021 IPL season. He quickly rose to stardom and impressed us all with his fiery thunderbolts clocking speeds in excess of 150 km/h consistently. Malik was acquired by SRH for Rs 4 crore and experienced a remarkable season. He was recognized as the Emerging Player of the tournament, having claimed 22 wickets across 14 matches. Additionally, he delivered the fastest ball by an Indian pacer, reaching a speed of 157 km/h, during a match against Delhi Capitals. Although away from the grand scheme of things, Malik still makes a strong case for himself as far as national selection is concerned. 

Yashasvi Jaiswal

The tall-swashbuckling Indian opener hails from an underprivileged background but he did not allow his poor beginnings to deter him from the path to glory. He made his IPL debut against Chennai Super Kings in 2020 before notching up his maiden IPL half-century against the same team a year later, in IPL 2021. Jaiswal was gradually blooded into the Royals team before stepping up in a huge way in IPL 2023, amassing 625 runs at a blistering strike rate of 163.61. His eye-catching performances in the IPL and domestic cricket attracted the attention of the national selectors and as a result, Jaiswal was able to make his first strides in international cricket at the tender age of 22. Playing in his maiden Test match against West Indies in 2023, Jaiswal slammed a scintillating 171 in the first innings, and a year later he scored 712 runs in the India vs England Test series, earning him the Player of the Series title.

Avesh Khan

Avesh Khan's IPL emergence came in 2021 when he had a breakthrough campaign for Delhi Capitals (DC). He was the team's top wicket-taker with 24 wickets. Avesh, who made his IPL debut for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2017, had a bleak run during his formative IPL years. But his fortunes took a turn for the better when he moved to Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in 2018. Playing an impressive brand of cricket, he was brought on board by LSG for INR 10 Crore in the 2022 IPl season making him the most expensive uncapped Indian player at the time. During that season, Avesh had a stellar run and delivered with the ball, scalping 18 wickets. So far, Avesh has been in and out of the national side. Nevertheless, the right-arm quick continues to lurk around on the horizon, and in the absence of frontline pacers, Avesh can thrive and could prove to be a very handy commodity for India in crunch matches. 

The upcoming IPL 2025 season is knocking at our doorstep. While the world has continued to see the incredible rise of youth talent in this cash-rich over several editions, the list just does not end here. The cricketing fraternity continues to wait in anticipation for the next bunch of young cricketers who will dazzle us all with their brilliance and light of the tournament with their swashbuckling performances.

In a thrilling encounter at the Indian Premier League, Sunrisers Hyderabad clinched a nail-biting one-run victory over Rajasthan Royals on Thursday. Choosing to bat first after winning the toss, Sunrisers got off to a shaky start, losing Abhishek Sharma and Anmolpreet Singh early on.

Travis Head and Nitish Reddy’s partnership give the match a push

However, Travis Head and Nitish Reddy steadied the ship with a brilliant partnership, scoring 96 runs off just 57 balls. Head’s impressive half-century and Reddy’s aggressive batting set the stage for a formidable total. Heinrich Klaasen’s quickfire 42 not out towards the end propelled Sunrisers to a challenging total of 201/3 in their allotted 20 overs.

Rajasthan Royals, in pursuit of 202 runs for victory, began their innings with a stunning 133-run partnership between Riyan Parag and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. Despite Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s early strikes, Parag and Jaiswal kept the Royals’ hopes alive with their impressive batting display.

SRH make a comeback

However, Sunrisers’ bowlers staged a remarkable comeback, putting pressure on the Royals’ middle order and restricting their scoring in the crucial final overs. Despite a valiant effort from Parag, who scored a brilliant 77, and Jaiswal’s impressive 67, Rajasthan Royals fell agonizingly short of the target, managing to score 200/6 in their 20 overs.

The match witnessed several turning points, including Travis Head’s dropped catch on the very first delivery he faced and Avesh Khan’s crucial wickets for Rajasthan Royals.

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In the end, Sunrisers Hyderabad emerged victorious by the narrowest of margins, clinching a thrilling one-run win and securing valuable points in the IPL standings.

In the ongoing group-stage clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2024, young Indian batter Nitish Kumar Reddy showcased his exceptional batting prowess, steering SRH to a formidable total with a memorable innings.

Nitish Kumar Reddy’s Entrance into the Game

Nitish Kumar Reddy, aged 20, emerged as the savior for SRH as he walked in to bat when the team was reeling at 35 for 2. Facing a challenging situation, Nitish Kumar Reddy displayed maturity beyond his years as he set about resurrecting SRH’s innings.

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Although Nitish Kumar Reddy faced initial difficulties, scoring just 5 runs from his first 10 balls, he quickly adapted to the conditions and shifted gears. His aggressive approach turned the tide in SRH’s favor, with the young batter taking the attack to the RR bowlers.

Dominance Against RR Spinners

Nitish Kumar Reddy’s fearless batting against the spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and R Ashwin was the highlight of his innings. He dismantled their bowling, hitting Chahal for 21 runs in an over and dispatching Ashwin for consecutive sixes.

Milestones Achieved

During his explosive innings, Nitish Kumar Reddy surpassed his previous T20 best, reaching a score of 76 runs from just 42 deliveries. His innings comprised 3 boundaries and an impressive 8 sixes, propelling SRH to a commanding total of 201 for 3 in their allotted 20 overs.

Nitish Reddy this innings
First 10 balls: 5 runs (SR 50)
Next 20 balls: 45 runs (SR 225)

Most sixes by an SRH batter in an IPL innings:
8 D Warner vs KKR Hyderabad 2017
8 M Pandey vs RR Dubai 2020
8 H Klaasen vs KKR Kolkata 2024
8 T Head vs RCB Bengaluru 2024
8 Nitish Reddy vs RR Hyderabad 2024

Praise on Social Media

Following his brilliant performance, social media platforms were abuzz with praise for Nitish Kumar Reddy’s exceptional knock. Fans and cricket enthusiasts hailed his talent and potential, recognizing him as a future star of Indian cricket.

In a thrilling encounter at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Mohali, Sunrisers Hyderabad emerged victorious by a narrow margin of two runs against Punjab Kings. Despite a late onslaught in the last over, Punjab Kings fell short of the target of 183, managing only 180 for six.

Sunrisers Hyderabad initially had the upper hand, but a late surge by Punjab Kings threatened to turn the tide. However, a remarkable 19th over bowled by T Natarajan proved decisive in favor of Sunrisers, as they managed to contain Punjab Kings to just 10 runs, leaving them needing an improbable 26 runs off the final over.

Sunrisers have a solid start

Although Punjab Kings’ duo of Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma put up a valiant effort with a 69-run partnership in the last 4.3 overs, it wasn’t enough to secure victory. Despite Jaidev Unadkat conceding 26 runs in the final over, including three wides, Sunrisers Hyderabad held their nerve to clinch the win.

Earlier in the match, Punjab Kings’ top order struggled, with the top three batters falling cheaply. It was only the partnership between Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma that breathed life into their innings. However, their efforts were overshadowed by a disciplined bowling performance from Sunrisers Hyderabad, particularly by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and captain Pat Cummins, who provided a solid start.

Nitish Reddy shines from the Sunrisers

For Sunrisers Hyderabad, the innings was characterized by a remarkable comeback after being reduced to 39 for 3 in the third over and 64 for four after the fifth. Nitish Reddy played a crucial role in stabilizing the innings with a gritty knock, before accelerating in the latter part of his innings to propel Sunrisers to a competitive total.

See Also: Who is Nitish Kumar Reddy? Savior of SRH against PBKS

Despite a stellar performance by Punjab Kings’ bowler Harpreet Brar initially, Nitish Reddy’s onslaught in the latter part of his innings turned the tide in favor of Sunrisers Hyderabad. Arshdeep Singh emerged as the standout bowler for Punjab Kings, striking crucial blows at crucial junctures to keep the pressure on Sunrisers Hyderabad.

In the end, it was a hard-fought victory for Sunrisers Hyderabad, who overcame early setbacks and a late surge by Punjab Kings to secure a crucial win in the tournament.