IPL 2020: 3 Indian youngsters who will be keenly observed by the selectors

The 13th season of Indian Premier League is a few months away and the franchises have already begun their preparation for the upcoming season. The season is likely to commence in March/April and it would be interesting to see which side lifts the trophy this year. Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings will start as favourites this year but one cannot take other teams lightly because every team is equally balanced in all departments after the recent auctions.

While few veterans will consider this season as their last to make an impression, on the other hand, there are plenty of youngsters who would want to showcase their talent on the big stage and ensure a place in the national side.

Let us look at 3 youngsters, who will be keenly observed by the selectors in the 2020 season.

#3 Ishan Kishan - Mumbai Indians

Ishan Kishan is part of Mumbai Indians setup since 2018

Ishan Kishan has made a name for himself with his aggressive stroke-play in the under-19 World cup that was held in 2016. He, along with Rishabh Pant, tormented the opposition bowling attacks and helped India reach the finals of Under 19 World cup. His performance helped him fetch a spot in the 2016 season of the Indian Premier League when he was picked up by Gujarat Lions.

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After having an average run with the bat for Gujarat Lions, he was released from the franchise and was picked up by Mumbai Indians for the 2018 season. He scored 275 runs in 14 games at an average of 22.92 and a strike-rate of 149.46. In the 2019 season, he played only 7 games and scored 101 runs.

With Rishab Pant being the only wicket-keeper playing for the national side, this season would be an ideal opportunity for Ishan Kishan to prove his ability with both bat and gloves and fetch a spot in the national side.

#2 Prithvi Shaw - Delhi Capitals

Prithvi Shaw made his IPL debut in 2019 season

Prithvi Shaw was touted to be the next superstar of Indian Cricket after his heroics with the bat in the Under 19 World Cup that was held in the year of 2018. The 20-year-old was bought by the Delhi Capitals in the 2018 season and he delivered some good performances with the bat, scoring 245 runs in 9 games at an average of 27.22 and a strike-rate of 153.13.

He was also part of the national side in the 2 test match series against West Indies at home in 2018. H

In the next season, Shaw scored 353 runs in 16 games at an average of 22.06 and a strike-rate of 133.71. He was also part of the 2 test matches against West Indies in 2018, where he scored a hundred and a fifty to announce his arrival at the big stage.

However, he was suspended from competitive cricket due to a doping offence earlier this year and served an eight-month ban until November. Hence, the upcoming season would be crucial for Shaw to make an impact and retain his place in the national side.

Shubman Gill - Kolkata Knight Riders

Shubman Gill was awarded the Emerging Player of the Season in 2019

20 years old, Shubman Gill made the headlines with his performances with the bat in the Under 19 2018 World cup. His match-winning 102* against Pakistan in the semi-finals was regarded as one of the best knocks in the history of Under 19 World cups. He was also awarded as the Player of the tournament and these achievements fetched him a place in the Kolkata Knight Riders squad in the 2018 season.

In his debut season, the Punjab youngster scored 203 runs in 13 games at an average of 33.83. He was also drafted into the playing XI in the series against New Zealand earlier this year. However, he failed to make an impact in the 2 games he played. Despite failing in the 2 games, he made a decent comeback in the 2019 IPL Season, where he scored 296 runs in 14 games at an impressive average of 32.89. But this was not enough as he couldn't get a spot in the national team for the 2019 World cup and has been sidelined ever since.

With consistent performances in the domestic circuit, the upcoming IPL season will be an acid test for the right-handed batsman as his performances could determine the fate of his career in the international circuit for the foreseeable future.