IPL 2015's best Under-25 XI

The IPL for many is entertainment. For some, it is also a window into the future. Where else will you get to see so many young players competing against the game’s best, sometimes in high pressure situations. Interestingly, this year’s Under-25 XI of the IPL is not as formidable as it was last year, considering quite a few stars just crossed over the 25-year mark. Nevertheless, the team does boast of a solid batting and bowling line-up along with the World Cup’s best all-rounder. Let’s take a look:

#1 Quinton de Kock - Delhi Daredevils

He had a bad World Cup, but if the South African batsman has the backing of his skipper AB de Villiers, then who are we to say otherwise. The 22 year old in all T20s averages close to 33 with a strike rate of 132.5. He is also a left hander who can open the innings against any bowling line-up and that could be a massive plus for the Delhi Daredevils, where he will be captained by his South African teammate JP Duminy.

Quinton de Kock in form can smash any bowling lineup apart like India realised on their previous tour to South Africa.

#2 Manan Vohra - Kings XI Punjab

Manan Vohra showed glimpses of rare talent playing for Kings XI Punjab in the previous season. Opening the innings for the team alongside Virender Sehwag, the 21 year old was able to match the Nawab of Najafgarh shot to shot giving his team brisk and stable starts.

Confident against pace bowlers with a good footwork, Manan averages 33 in Twenty20 with a strike-rate of 136. Manan just about manages to inch ahead of two other young Indian batsmen – Mayank Agarwal and Mandeep Singh.

#3 Kane Williamson(c) - Sunrisers Hyderabad

New Zealand’s most solid batsman has had a pretty lacklustre World Cup. Yet, playing for Northern Districts, the New Zealand domestic T20 champions, the 24 year old showed that he can notch it faster if he wants to. In 19 T20 international innings Williamson has an average of 27.5 and a strike-rate of 119.24. He is very likely to better that already decent record on flatter batting wickets in India.

Williamson will also be an ideal No.3 and could lend stability if the team loses early wickets. He will also be the skipper of this XI with a mature head over his shoulders. He is already Brendon McCullum’s heir apparent in the New Zealand side. He is equally confident on the front and back foot, marking him out as a special player.

#4 Unmukt Chand - Mumbai Indians

The 21 year old became an overnight sensation after his composed innings as India U-19 captain helped them win the U-19 World Cup played down under. He wasn’t very impressive during his tenure for Delhi Daredevils but is likely to blossom under someone like Ricky Ponting. Interestingly, Unmukt has two centuries in Twenty20 and just a lone half-century. His average of 20.25 and strike-rate of 112.50 are also likely to go up as his technique and shot-making get fine-tuned by Mumbai Indians large coaching contingent.

#5 Corey Anderson - Mumbai Indians

The World Cup’s best all-rounder, Corey Anderson can smash the ball at will and bowl consistently at higher than 135kph. More importantly, he has a golden arm. In the previous season he has managed to win a critical game for Mumbai Indians single-handedly.

In all Twenty20, Corey averages 19.5 with the bat with a strike-rate of 134.41 and 34.83 with the ball, having taken 18 wickets so far in the 27 innings that he has bowled in.

#6 Sanju Samson - Rajasthan Royals

Sanju Samson doesn’t have the Twenty20 record that someone like Karun Nair has. Nevertheless, Samson will still make it to this team after his exploits for Rajasthan Royals, contributing for Rahul Dravid’s team under tense situations against some quality oppositions.

With an average of 25 and a strike-rate of 118.56, Samson is also a good glove-man, providing an alternative if Quinton doesn’t play in the team. In just 51 Twenty20 innings, Samson already has eight half-centuries having blessed with the gift of timing, that works even without elaborate footwork.

#7 James Faulkner - Rajasthan Royals

24 years and 340 days old, James Faulkner just manages to make it to this list and what a great addition he is. A world-class finisher, the all-rounder averages 20 with the bat at a strike-rate of 122.50 and 22.14 with the ball with 105 wickets in 86 matches.

He has a lot of variety up his sleeves, making him a critical player for Rajasthan Royals. He can also come down low in the order and tonk some handy runs, whether batting first or in a chase. He has an ODI century and two Twenty20 five wicket hauls as well making him probably the MVP of this team.

#8 Axar Patel - Kings XI Punjab

The 21 year old came in for rich praise from his skipper George Bailey in the previous season for Kings XI Punjab. He will only get better as he goes along. A handy batsman with an average of 16.85 and an incredible strike-rate of 145, Axar Patel is primarily a left-arm orthodox spinner.

He doesn’t turn the ball much but his guile and variation in speed are deadly combined with his accuracy and calm head. His economy in Twenty20 games is a spectacular 6.13 with an average of 22.5 having taken 36 wickets in 35 games so far. He was also a member of the Indian team that made it to the semi-finals at the recently concluded World Cup.

#9 Kuldeep Yadav - Kolkata Knight Riders

The 20 year old was a revelation in the few games that he played for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the previous season. He bowls left-arm chinaman, a rare variety of spinner who managed a five-wicket haul already having played just 13 games, bowling with an economy of 6.76 and an average of 15.

With 22 wickets in just 13 games, Yadav is only going to get better especially against batsmen who don’t play spin well, leave alone chinaman. It will help that he is in the squad alongside Brad Hogg, an excellent chinaman bowler himself, who broke into the Australian team for a second innings after turning 40.

#10 Sandeep Sharma

Playing for KXIP under George Bailey, Sandeep Sharma was one of the reasons why Kings XI did so well last year. With a bowling average of just 19, Sandeep Sharma is a wicket-taker.

With a strike-rate of just 15 balls, he has 40 wickets from 28 innings. An impressive medium-pacer, the 21 year old bowls in the mid-130s but can swing the ball both ways, giving him a deadly edge on Indian pitches that don’t offer much movement.

#11 Pat Cummins - Kolkata Knight Riders

The 21 year old Pat Cummins has the pace to hustle any batsman. With a bowling average of 23.4, the tall right arm fast bowler has 54 wickets in 44 outings. With a Cricket Australia contract and a World Cup winners’ medal, he has already made it big.

He has worked hard to recover from an injury that had sidelined him after he broke into the international scene with a bang, against South Africa. He has it in him to be the pace spearhead of his team, laced with Aussie ruthlessness.

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Edited by Staff Editor