IPL 2021: Five Indian youngsters who impressed the most
Chennai Super Kings defeated Kolkata Knight Riders in the high-octane IPL final on 15th October (Friday). While the MS Dhoni’s team is chided as Dad’s Army, it was spearheaded by a youngster who was giving them solid starts. Ruturaj Gaikwad with his knock of 32 in the final secured the Orange Cap and finished on a high. The IPL 2021 threw up many such Indian youngsters who gave stirring performances for their sides. Here are the top five –
5. Yashasvi Jaiswal (Rajasthan Royals)
The 20-year old batsman from Mumbai first hogged the limelight with his U-19 heroics. Gaining an IPL contract with Rajasthan Royals in 2020, Jaiswal did not have a memorable debut IPL season. With Jos Buttler unavailable in the UAE leg of the IPL, Rajasthan provided consistent opportunities to Jaiswal at the top of the batting order. He amassed 249 runs in 10 matches this season with an average of 22.23 and at a strike rate 136.32. His whirlwind fifty off 21 balls against Chennai Super Kings was a memorable knock.
4. Arshdeep Singh (Punjab Kings)
The left-arm pacer from Punjab was playing in his third IPL season this year. Leaking runs in the death overs had been a severe cause of concern for the Punjab IPL side over the years but this 22-year old managed to solve that problem from his end. He captured 18 wickets in 12 matches including a five-wicket haul taken against Rajasthan Royals.
3. Venkatesh Iyer (Kolkata Knight Riders)
KKR arrived in the UAE phase with only two victories in their first seven games. The chances of them qualifying for the playoffs looked bleak until the spectacular turnaround happened. Venkatesh Iyer proved to be the catalyst of that transformation. The tall 27-year old all-rounder from Madhya Pradesh made an enormous impression in his debut IPL season. With 370 runs in 10 appearances along with three wickets, Iyer played an influential role in taking Kolkata into the final.
2. Avesh Khan (Delhi Capitals)
Despite featuring in four IPL seasons, Avesh Khan had made only nine IPL appearances before 2021. He set the record straight this year with a ground-breaking performance. Playing alongside world-class pace bowlers like Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, Avesh managed to make his own impression. The 25-year old right-arm pacer claimed 24 scalps in 16 IPL games while registering the best bowling figures of 3/13. Avesh finished second in the purple cap race behind Harshal Patel.
1. Ruturaj Gaikwad (Chennai Super Kings)
After a poor beginning in the IPL 2020 season, Gaikwad showed his ‘spark’ with three fifties in the final three matches of CSK. This year, he continued from where he left and delivered an incredibly consistent performance. Along with his opening partner, Faf du Plessis, Gaikwad provided CSK with plenty of solid starts. Gaikwad’s 101 not out against Rajasthan Royals was a masterful display of pacing an innings. He deservedly grabbed the Orange Cap with 635 runs in 16 appearances.
