Apart from its primary purpose, the IPL also serves as a platform for showcasing the finest up-and-coming players in Indian and international cricket. Below are eight promising individuals who have yet to make their debut in the IPL, but have the potential to become well-known figures in the future.
Representing the Mumbai Indians is Robin Minz.
Despite a motorcycle accident hindering his chances of breaking into the IPL last year, this talented player is making a comeback with the Mumbai Indians. They beat out competition from Chennai Super Kings to secure his services for INR 65 lakh. With less than ten representative T20s under his belt, MI is highly anticipating his impressive power and speed, having closely monitored him at their development camps in the UK and DY Patil tournament in Mumbai. Known as Jharkhand’s Chris Gayle and being compared to “the next Dhoni,” Minz possesses remarkable bat speed and is even capable of executing the helicopter shot. Could this left-handed wicketkeeper-batter be another star discovery for MI’s scouting network?
Representing the team of Rajasthan Royals is Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
At the age of only 13, Vaibhav Suryavanshi has caused a stir by securing an IPL contract with Rajasthan Royals, making him the youngest Indian to do so at a whopping INR 1.1 crore. Known for his left-handed batting skills in the top-order, he captured attention with his outstanding performance of scoring a century in just 58 balls – setting a new record for fastest century by an Indian in youth Tests – against Australia U-19s. He also showcased his talent by scoring two half-centuries during the U-19 Asia Cup and displaying an unbeaten triple-century in a U-19 tournament held in Bihar.
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Introducing Suryansh Shedge, a talented player representing Punjab Kings.
Shedge, a crucial factor behind Mumbai’s Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 triumph, was acquired by Punjab Kings for his base value of INR 30 lakh. He recorded an impressive strike rate of 252 and reached a total of 131 runs, the most among those who faced at least 20 deliveries.
Shedge contributed crucial runs during the quarter-final against Vidarbha, scoring an unbeaten 12-ball 36. He also made another unbeaten 15-ball 36 in the final against Madhya Pradesh. In addition to his impressive batting, he took eight wickets in nine innings with his seam-ups. While he has not yet played an IPL game, this will be Shedge’s second time participating in the tournament as a replacement player. He previously filled in for Jaydev Unadkat at Lucknow Super Giants in 2023.
The cricketer, Ryan Rickelton, has joined the Mumbai Indians.
A wicketkeeper-batter from South Africa is set to join Rohit Sharma as an opener for MI in the IPL. Sound like a déjà vu? In their victorious seasons of 2019 and 2020, Quinton de Kock was a formidable force at the start of the lineup. MI attempted to bring de Kock back for this year’s IPL, however, Kolkata Knight Riders outplayed them in the bidding war. Thus, they opted for Ryan Rickelton, who bears a striking resemblance to de Kock with his youth and height.
MI’s decision to invest in Rickelton’s powerful batting skills proved successful earlier this year, as he played a crucial role in securing MI Cape Town’s first SA20 championship. With an impressive strike rate of 177.41 during the powerplay, Rickelton showcased his explosive capabilities not just limited to that phase of the game. His abilities were evident when he scored a quick-fire century off 63 balls for Seattle Orcas in the Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA last year. The question now remains, can he replicate this success in the IPL as well?
Representing Punjab Kings is the inimitable Priyansh Arya.
Arya, a left-handed opener, made a name for himself in the Delhi Premier League match when he hit six sixes in an over and scored 120 runs off just 50 balls. He then went on to partner with Ayush Badoni and together they put up a massive 286 runs. Surpassing all other DPL players, Arya topped the run charts with an impressive score of 608 runs in just 10 innings, maintaining an incredible strike rate of 199. His exceptional performance continued in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as well, where he accumulated 325 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 177. In fact, he even scored a century against Uttar Pradesh right before being bought by Punjab Kings for INR 3.4 crore at the IPL mega auction.
Corbin Bosch, who plays for the Mumbai Indians.
Although Corbin Bosch didn’t receive any bids at the previous mega auction in November, he has now been picked up by MI as a substitute for the injured Lizaad Williams. Since Hardik Pandya will be absent in MI’s first match against Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk due to an over-rate violation from last season, Bosch may be called upon to fill his role and bring balance to the team.
Bosch, a bowling allrounder from South Africa, took some time to reach his full potential. He made his international debut at the age of 30 and had a successful season with MI Cape Town in SA20. Typically, he excels in the middle and death overs with his powerful deliveries. Although he was placed lower in the batting order at MICT, he has shown that he can also move up and score boundaries, as seen during his stint with Barbados Royals in the 2022 CPL.
Eshan Malinga, who represents Sunrisers Hyderabad, is a notable player in the team.
While Eshan Malinga’s bowling style may not have the same slinging action as his fellow Sri Lankan cricketer Lasith Malinga, he does excel in delivering impressive performances during the death overs. During the auction, Eshan caught the attention of Sunrisers Hyderabad and was one of only two overseas players without a capped status to be chosen, along with Bevon Jacobs from New Zealand. Not long after being acquired by SRH for INR 1.2 crore, Eshan also made his ODI debut for Sri Lanka and debuted for Paarl Royals in SA20 matches.
Eshan first caught Sri Lanka’s attention in 2019 when he won a nationwide fast-bowling competition and reached speeds of 141kph. Although he may not hit that benchmark as consistently now, he has developed a skill for swinging the new ball and delivering precise yorkers at the end of innings. In fact, during the Emerging Asia Cup semi-final in Al Amerat last October, Eshan bowled an inch-perfect yorker to knock down Mohammad Haris. He then participated in an IPL trial with Rajasthan Royals, but ultimately ended up with SRH after they outbid their competitor. When conditions call for a pace-heavy attack, Eshan could serve as a fourth overseas option for SRH, potentially replacing Adam Zampa.
Representing the Delhi Capitals is Vipraj Nigam.
20-year-old Vipraj Nigam has quickly ascended in the world of senior cricket and was selected by Delhi Capitals during the auction. A legspinner, he draws inspiration from Rashid Khan and is known for his impressive speed and ability to spin on helpful surfaces. Catching attention in the UPT20 League with Lucknow Falcons, he took an impressive 20 wickets in just 11 innings with a strike rate of 11.15 and an economy rate of 7.45. These outstanding performances earned him a spot on the Uttar Pradesh senior team during the 2024-25 season, where he also showcased his batting skills with an unbeaten 27 runs off only 8 balls, helping UP reach the Syed Mushtaq Ali quarter-finals.
