IPL 2019: 5 promising Indian players who will be playing their maiden IPL

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is famous for its glitz, glamour, riveting encounters, and international superstars. It is also known to act as a medium for budding cricketers to make it big in international circuit. The IPL helps young Indian players gain visibility and acts as a catalyst to help them get a chance in the national team.

Players such as Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Shreyas Iyer - all came to the limelight thanks to the IPL. In this article, we look at the 5 promising youngsters who will be making their debut in IPL 2019. These talented players have been rated highly by cricket experts and can set the stage on fire in the upcoming season.

Before we begin, here are the Honourable Mentions: Ankush Bains (Delhi Capitals), Shashank Singh (Rajasthan Royals), Prithvi Raj Yarra (Kolkata Knight Riders), Ruturaj Gaikwad (Chennai Super Kings), Prayas Ray Barman (Royal Challengers Bangalore), Anmolpreet Singh (Mumbai Indians)

Here are the 5 IPL debutants to keep a close eye on:

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#5 Devdutt Padikkal (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Devdutt Padikkal

Devdutt Padikkal was roped in by RCB for his base price of ₹20 lakhs. The left-handed batsman scored a total of 124 runs in the 4 matches he played for Bellary Tuskers in the 2018 Karnataka Premier League. Padikkal was also highly impressive in the few opportunities he got for Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy.

The Kerala-born player got a few opportunities to play for the India U19 as well. The 18-year-old is an extremely confident player. He is in great nick and even finished as the 4th highest run-getter of the Cooch Behar Trophy 2018 with 829 runs to his name. In addition, the youngster can be used as a right-arm offbreak bowler occasionally.

Padikkal might get a few opportunities to prove his mettle in the latter half of the tournament. The opening batsmen is one of the most exciting debutants to look forward to.

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#4 Harpreet Brar (Kings XI Punjab)

Brar

Kings XI Punjab bought Harpreet Brar for his base price of ₹20 lakhs. The Moga-born all-rounder has been rather impressive for the junior teams of Punjab and is likely to get a big break for the Kings XI in the IPL.

This was the 23-year-old's last shot to make it to the IPL and his perseverance and determination finally earned him a contract.

In an interview with the Times of India, the all-rounder also revealed his plans to move with his sister in Canada for good due to his frustration of failing to find meaningful opportunities in cricket.

However, 9 wickets in 2 matches for Mohali brought him into the limelight.

Brar is known to be deceptive with the ball and has the ability to turn the ball on any pitch. The youngster can also hit big sixes and is a handy batsman as well.

The talented player has gone through a seven-year-long slog in domestic cricket to finally earn a contract with Kings XI Punjab. He will have a point to prove and play with intent if given a chance.

#3 Prabhsimran Singh (Kings XI Punjab)

Simran Singh is known for his big-hitting ability

Kings XI Punjab paid a hefty sum of ₹4.8 crores to bring Prabhsimran Singh on board. The 18-year-old is a hard-hitting wicketkeeper-batsman from Punjab.

He came to the selectors' notice after smashing 298 off 301 for Patiala at the Punjab U-23 district tournament. The knock came in the all-important semifinal encounter against Amritsar.

This earned the young player a national U19 team call-up. He was a part of the Indian side which finished as runners-up of the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup recently. In fact, his cousin brother Anmolpreet Singh has also been picked up by the Mumbai Indians and is another player to look out for.

The youngster considers Adam Gilchrist as one of his idols and has a knack for big-hitting. Singh has not been in the best of form lately and could not do much for Punjab in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy apart from a fifty against Mumbai.

Regardless, the right-hand batsman is rated highly by many experts.

Lokesh Rahul is an excellent batsman but is not extraordinary behind the stumps. If Singh is able to prove his mettle in the nets, multiple opportunities may come his way.

#2 Shivam Dube (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Will Shivam Dube be a game-changer for RCB

RCB bid a hefty amount of ₹5 crores in order to procure the services of Shivam Dube. The Mumbai-born all-rounder has performed exceptionally well for the domestic team. He picked up 4 wickets in the two matches he played during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

The 25-year-old has been excellent with both bat and ball in first class cricket. The youngster hit 5 sixes in an over against Baroda during a Ranji Trophy. The highly rated explosive batsman had earlier achieved the same feat in the Mumbai T20 League when he smashed 5 sixes in Pravin Tambe's over.

Shivam can fit in perfectly in the RCB side as a finisher -- someone who comes in at number 6 or 7 and win matches for the team. Many experts have also compared the all-rounder to Kapil Dev. The player who idolizes Jacques Kallis is fit, well-rounded, and can prove to be a game-changer for RCB in IPL 2019.

Dube amassed 632 runs in 8 Ranji Trophy matches at an average of 52.66. He was also handy with the ball and made 23 scalps. It will be interesting to see if the talented all-rounder is given an opportunity in the opening match against CSK. Sharing the dressing room with the likes of Kohli and AB de Villiers will also be an altogether different experience for him.

#1 Varun Chakravarthy (Kings XI Punjab)

Varun

Varun Chakravarthy became the (joint) biggest buy of the 2019 IPL auction as he was roped in by Kings XI Punjab for ₹8.4 crores. The former architect-engineer's story has been one of 'following your passion to succeed in life.'

He has tried his hand as a wicketkeeper, as a pacer (which was halted due to a knee injury), and is currently a mystery spinner who has 7 variations.

The Tamil Nadu player finished as the 2nd highest wicket-taker of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2018-19 with 22 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 16.68 and economy rate of 4.23.

Chakravarthy revealed that he used to experiment quite a lot with the tennis ball when he played gully cricket. The 27-year-old tried doing the same with the leather ball and it worked well.

The bowling all-rounder has even bowled to some top CSK and KKR players in the nets and got to know about their mindsets.

With Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ashwin, Harpreet, and Varun in their ranks, Punjab seem to have one of the most lethal spin attacks in IPL 2019.

Had a close look at him last year at CSK nets... This guy Varun Chakravarthy have the potential to play for INDIA.. selectors should keep an eye on him.. he is a fast and furious spin bowler.. another mystery spinner ✅🔥..

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) December 18, 2018