The 2016 season of the IPL kicks off with much fanfare and like every season, we can expect to see some promising youngsters take the field, dawning their team colours wanting to make an impact! This time too our eyes will be on the newer crop of Indian players who will join the foreign talent that the franchises have acquired during the auctions.
We have studied the teams and picked out 5 promising Indian players to look out for in IPL 2016:
1. Krunal Pandya – Mumbai Indians
24 year old Krunal Pandya is the elder brother of India’s new-found all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who hails from Baroda and has so far played just 15 T20s and 4 List A matches. He is a left-handed batsman and left-arm orthodox bowler and what’s interesting is that inspite of not making his first-class debut, he has been picked up by Mumbai Indians for a whopping 2 crore! That’s 20 times the price MI paid to buy Hardik Pandya. We are sure they have spotted some spark of brilliance in him and he will be on everyone’s watch list.
2. Shreyas Iyer – Delhi Daredevils
This 21 year old right-hand batsman has been one of the best finds of the IPL till date. Coming off from two successful Ranji seasons where he finished as the highest run-getter in his debut season and then finished as the tournament’s highest scorer in the second, he also won the ‘Emerging Player of IPL 8’ award for his 439 runs in 14 matches, playing for the Delhi Daredevils. Under the mentorship of Rahul Dravid, this youngster can be hopeful that another successful IPL season could fast-track him into the national team.
(Image Source)
3. Pawan Negi – Delhi Daredevils
When you are the costliest Indian player in the auctions, you’ve got to be on this list! This left-arm orthodox spinner was picked up by Delhi Daredevils for a mammoth 8.5 crore which was followed by his selection into the Indian national team. He made his debut in the Asia Cup against minnows UAE and was also selected in the Indian WT20 team. In the past he has played for Delhi Daredevils in 2012-13 and then for the Chennai Super Kings in 2014-15.
(Image Source)
4. Nathu Singh – Mumbai Indians
Pegged at being India’s fastest bowler, who can consistently bowl at 140 km/hr, Nathu who hails from a modest background (father works in a wire factory) in Rajasthan had taken the IPL auctions by storm after he was picked by Mumbai Indians for 3.2 crore. He has proved himself in the domestic circuit, the Deodhar Trophy and was recently picked in the Board XI to play a two day warm-up match against South Africa. Under the mentorship of Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting, let’s see how this lad performs in IPL 2016.
(Image Source)
5. Deepak Hooda – Sunrisers Hyderabad
This 20 year old youngster plays for the Baroda cricket team and has also played in the U-19 World Cup for India. He was picked by Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2015 and will represent the Sunrisers Hyderabad in this season. He is an all-rounder who bats right-handed and bowls right-arm off break, is also known to be a very agile fielder. His addition to SRH will surely strengthen their batting and bowling line up.
(Image Source)
Which player and team are you putting your money on this IPL 2016?
