IPL 2018: Top 5 Contenders for the Emerging Player Award

Talent meets opportunity is the tagline of the IPL and that’s the beauty of the IPL as well. So, many talented youngsters get the opportunity to showcase their talent in front of thousands of people in India. The Emerging Player Award is just a stepping stone for many youngsters as they go on to represent their country in the future. The likes of Axar Patel, Shreyas Iyer, Rohit Sharma and Mustafizur Rahman have won the emerging player award in the previous years.

In order to be eligible for the Emerging Player Award, the player must meet all four of the following criteria:

-Born after 1 April 1992;

-Have played 5 or fewer Test matches;

-Have played in 25 or less IPL matches (as of the start of the season); and

-Have not previously won the Emerging Player Award.

So let’s have a look at the Top 5 contenders for the emerging player award this season:

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#5 Nitish Rana (KKR)

Nitish Rana was with Mumbai Indians until the last year. KKR bought him for 3.4 Crore in the auction. He was brilliant for MI in the last season for the first half and then just tailed off a bit. He even lost his place to Ambati Rayudu in the playoffs. He is one of those players who will play according to the situation. If the situation demands to go from ball one then he is more than capable of doing that. He has scored 165 runs in 6 innings at an average 33 in this season.

He has won 2 Man of the Match awards for KKR this year. He is even chipping in with some crucial overs and getting some important breakthroughs. This performance from Nitish Rana is helping KKR to win matches and so he is slotted in at No.5 on this list.

#4 Jofra Archer (RR)

Jofra Archer took 3 wickets on his debut

Jofra Archer was absolutely sensational in the Big Bash League while playing for Hobart Hurricanes. The 23-year-old all-rounder took 16 wickets in 12 games at an economy rate of 7.96. He can even bat at the end of the innings. He had a strike rate of 137.96 in the BBL.

He had a dream start to his IPL career as he took 3 wickets for just 22 runs on his debut. He got his Yorker right on target in his last over to dismiss Hardik Pandya and Mitchell McClenaghan. He is a live-wire in the field and a great athlete. If he continues his form then he will definitely be a contender for the Emerging Player Award this year.

#3 Deepak Chahar (CSK)

Deepak Chahar has taken 6 wickets in 6 games this season

Deepak Chahar is becoming a part of the famed legacy which CSK have. They have a knack of providing good young fast bowlers to India. Deepak is no exception to that. He has been brilliant in this season for CSK. He has taken 6 wickets in 6 games at an economy rate of 7.88.

He swings the ball really well at the start of the innings. In the game against SRH, he started with a wicket maiden. He had figures of 4-1-15-3 at the end of the game, which is sensational in a T20 game. If he keeps picking wickets upfront then he is a definite contender for the Emerging Player Award this season.

#2 Mujeeb Ur Rahman (KXIP)

Mujeer Ur Rahman bowled the last over against DD and won the game for KXIP

Mujeeb did exceedingly well in the World Cup Qualifiers, but still many didn’t expect Mujeeb to start in the first XI. Ashwin who himself is a spinner, backed the 17-year-old mystery spinner to come good in the toughest T20 league and Mujeeb has been brilliant till now. He has taken 6 wickets in 6 games at an economy rate of 6.91.

The ball he bowled to get rid of Virat Kohli has to be the ball of the tournament till now. You don’t get Virat Kohli bowled through the gate every day. He was given the responsibility of bowling the last over against DD with 17 runs to defend. He did not allow Shreyas Iyer to score the 17 runs and won the game for KXIP. Mujeeb has been a great buy for KXIP and so he is slotted at No.2 on this list.

#1 Mayank Markande (MI)

Mayank Markande is the current purple cap holder

Mayank Markande has to be the story of the IPL till now. It tells us how good the scouting process of the Mumbai Indians is. Coming into this season, MI didn’t have any experienced wrist spinner. So, many thought that MI would struggle in the spin department and there was an opportunity for the youngsters to shine. Mayank Markande has definitely grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

The 20-year-old leg-spinner has been absolutely magnificent this season. Against CSK, he foxed MS Dhoni with a googly which is a rare thing to see. He has taken 10 wickets in 6 games at an economy rate of 7.15 and currently is the purple cap holder. If he continues the way he is going right now, he will definitely win the Emerging Player Award this season.