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Despite existing only for 10 years, the Indian Premier League has emerged as the biggest platform for young, up-and-coming talents from all countries to display their exceptional talents and stake their claim for a spot in their nation's cricket team. Take, for example, the case of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya. The duo made their name in IPL courtesy some exceptional performances for the Mumbai-based franchise, and are now an integral member of the Indian team in all the formats.
Bumrah, especially, has been on a roll since his debut and is currently the best limited overs bowler in the world. As always, this season has featured plenty of uncapped players who have exceeded expectations. As a way of giving them the credit they deserve, here is the best playing XI comprising uncapped players from this IPL:
Openers
Prithvi Shaw (Delhi Daredevils)
It's not very often that an U-19 skipper manages to make an impact at the senior level right after taking his team to victory at the junior level, but Prithvi Shaw, just like Virat Kohli, has successfully managed to do so.
The 19-year old sensation from Mumbai has been exceptional for DD at the top of the order and has managed to keep Colin Munro and Gautam Gambhir out of the squad. Having played only 7 matches for the team, Shaw has accumulated 216 runs. His average of almost 31 is no doubt a very impressive number, but it is his fantastic strike rate of 160 that is earning him praise from all quarters.
Suryakumar Yadav (Mumbai Indians)
Suryakumar Yadav's return to Mumbai Indians is the perfect example of how a change in franchise can do wonders for a struggling player. Always considered a player with a lot of potential during his stint with Kolkata Knight Riders, Yadav has finally managed to break the glass ceiling this season and has arguably been the MVP for the Mumbai Indians.
Promoted to the top of the order after a couple of matches for the team, he has provided solid starts more often than not. In 12 matches so far, Yadav has 473 runs, and four 50+ scores, to his name at an average of almost 40 and a strike rate of almost 130. He is the highest run-scorer for the team and will be a force to be reckoned with in future seasons.
Middle Order
Nitish Rana (Kolkata Knight Riders)
One of the main reasons for the success of Kolkata Knight Riders this season, Nitish Rana has been in the form of his life in this edition of the IPL. Already considered a batting sensation after his exploits with the Mumbai Indians last season, where he finished with 333 runs, Rana has added a few weapons to his game and has slowly developed into a handy partnership-breaking off-spinner as well.
Rana has played 11 matches for KKR this season and has only missed 1 encounter. In those 11 matches, he has scored 251 runs at a strike rate of 133. With the ball in hand, he has picked up the prized scalps of Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Ajinkya Rahane. Courtesy impressive performances with both bat and ball, Rana will definitely be a vital part of the team if they make it to the playoffs.
Shubman Gill (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Just like his U-19 skipper Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill, the player of the tournament in the U-19 World Cup earlier this year, has turned many heads with his brilliant batting performances in this IPL. After failing to make it to the playing XI in the first few matches, Gill has done wonders for the team in the subsequent matches and even played a match-winning innings in a vital game for his team.
Since he missed the first 3 fixtures of the team, Gill has only been part of 9 matches in this IPL. He has scored 145 runs in those matches and stayed not out 4 times. Gill has scored runs at a healthy average of over 36, a strike rate of 142 and has a 50+ score to his name. Just like Nitish Rana, Gill will be a vital member of the team in the upcoming matches.
Krunal Pandya (Mumbai Indians)
There hasn't been a player from any of the teams in the IPL in the past 3 years that has made as much progress as Krunal Pandya. Krunal has emerged from the shadow of his younger sibling and has transformed himself into the premier all-rounder for the Mumbai Indians.
Unlike in previous seasons, Krunal has been a part of the playing XI in all the matches for the team so far. In 12 matches, he has scored 192 runs with the bat at a tremendous strike rate of over 146. With the ball, he has been in the form of his life, taking 11 wickets at a miserly economy of just 6.9. Krunal has made his way into the India A squad and it won't be long before he joins his brother in the senior team.
Lower Order
Ishan Kishan(wk) (Mumbai Indians)
The only uncapped wicketkeeper among the 8 teams in this season of the IPL, the former U-19 captain has done a very good job for the Mumbai Indians so far this season. Despite a hot and cold start to this season where he was shuffled up and down the batting order, Kishan has managed to keep his form intact and has been impressive with the bat as well as behind the stumps.
Part of the playing XI in all the matches this season so far, Kishan has 250 runs to his name at a humongous strike rate of almost 160. His match-winning 21-ball-62 run knock against KKR was vital in keeping MI alive in this edition. Apart from his batting, Kishan has also been part of 10 dismissals, which is the joint highest among the wicketkeepers.
Krishnappa Gowtham (Rajasthan Royals)
Even though Rajasthan Royals shocked everyone with their over-the-top bidding for players, they didn't shy away from their trend of taking young cricketers under their wing and grooming them in the best way. Krishnappa Gowtham has been the biggest surprise package for the Jaipur-based franchise, as the erstwhile unknown player has been doing wonders both with the bat as well as with the ball this season.
Gowtham has been a part of the playing XI in all the matches for the team so far. Batting at number 7 or 8, Gowtham has accumulated 100 runs at a gargantuan strike rate of almost 213. His 11-ball-33 is one of the most memorable cameos in the history of the IPL. With the ball, he has 8 scalps to his name at a respectable economy of 7.8.
Jofra Archer (Rajasthan Royals)
Before this season of the IPL, there was a lot of hype surrounding the arrival of Jofra Archer in the biggest T20 league of the world. Already a sensation all over the world, Jofra was expected to set the stage on fire with his flamboyant style of play. Even though he failed to make it to the playing XI in the first few matches due to injury, he has been a revelation for the Rajasthan Royals with the ball since his return.
Part of the playing XI in just 7 out of the 12 matches for the team, Jofra Archer has added a new element to the RR bowling line up that was struggling to find some momentum. With 13 wickets to his name at an economy of 7.9 and average of a little over 16, Archer has emerged as the biggest match winner from the bowling department for the team.
Bowlers
Siddarth Kaul (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
Undoubtedly the best Indian fast bowler in this season of IPL, Siddarth Kaul has added more firepower to an already exceptional Sunrisers Hyderabad bowling line-up. So good has Kaul been so far in this season for SRH that he has even eclipsed Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Sandeep Sharma as the highest wicket-taker for the franchise, along with Rashid Khan.
In the 12 matches that SRH have played so far in this season, Kaul has taken 13 wickets at an economy of just 7.9.
Deepak Chahar (Chennai Super Kings)
The team from Chennai is famous for grooming young cricketers and turning them into stars. In the past, players like Murali Vijay and Ravichandran Ashwin benefited a lot by working under the wing of MS Dhoni. They have continued this trend in 2018 as well, and it is Deepak Chahar who has joined Vijay and Ashwin in this list. A fiery right arm fast bowler, Chahar has been on fire since the very first match.
Had it not been for a hamstring injury that he suffered midway through the tournament, Chahar would have been part of all the fixtures of CSK. In the 8 matches that he has played for the Chennai-based franchise, Chahar has 7 wickets to his name at a respectable economy of 7.29 and a strike rate slightly less than 20. His raw pace has often troubled the batsmen, and he will play a vital role in the upcoming matches for CSK.
Mayank Markande (Mumbai Indians)
Even though Mumbai Indians are almost out of playoff contention, one can not deny the fact that their players have performed surprisingly well this season. We already spoke about how Suryakumar Yadav, Krunal Pandya and Ishan Kishan have been a revelation for the team, but there is no denying the fact that the biggest success story of this season has been the arrival of one Mayank Markande.
An unknown domestic cricketer before the start of IPL 2018, Markande became an overnight sensation when he became the proud owner of the purple cap after taking 7 wickets in the first 2 matches. The 20-year old from Bathinda has played all 12 matches for Mumbai Indians, and has 14 wickets to his name at an economy of just over 8. His googly to dismiss MS Dhoni is easily one of the best balls of this season.
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