Full of talent: Five youngest half-centurions in IPL
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has produced many batting talents while being in their teens over the course of 12 editions till date. Many players were successful in this T20 franchise league coming straight after being part of the Under-19 World Cup. Shreevats Goswami, who was part of India’s victorious campaign in the U19 CWC 2008, smashed a fifty in the inaugural edition of the IPL a day after his 19th birthday.
The record stood until a Kerala boy Sanju Samson smashed a fifty representing Rajasthan Royals in the 2013 edition well before turning 19. In only his 2nd match, Samson smashed 63 runs from only 41 deliveries to help the Royals chase down a target of 172 against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Sanju was only 18 years and 169 days old when he achieved this feat. The 2016 U19 CWC star Rishabh Pant came close to the record that year while representing the Delhi Daredevils.
Pant, who got a chance of opening the innings, smashed 69 from only 40 deliveries against the new IPL team Gujarat Lions. The Delhi batsman was 18 years and 212 days old at the time of his maiden IPL fifty. Interestingly, Samson was the No.3 batsman of the DD team during this match. In 2018, Prithvi Shaw, fresh of leading India to U19 CWC title, smashed a 44-ball 62 against the Kolkata Knight Riders in only his 2nd match. He was 18 years and 169 days old at the time of his maiden IPL fifty, same as Samson.
Another star from U19 CWC 2018, Shubman Gill, found a place in the list of youngest players to score an IPL fifty. Batting in the top-order for the first time while playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders, Gill sizzled with his unbeaten 36-ball 57. However, the record of youngest to score an IPL fifty went into hands of Riyan Parag who was just 17 years and 175 days old when he smashed a fifty in 2019 while facing the Delhi Capitals. Samson, Shaw and Pant, who all occupy next three places in this list, were part of the match when Parag created history.
(Stats as on September 2, 2020)
