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The Indian Premier League (IPL), since its inception in 2008, has been a breeding ground for young cricketers. Over the last 13 years, we have witnessed many cricketers - both Indian and overseas - make it to the national team after making an impression in the IPL.
IPL 2021, which will commence on April 9 with defending champions Mumbai Indians locking horns with Royal Challengers Bangalore, will see many youngsters rubbing shoulders with the best in the game. Some young uncapped bowlers are expected to leave their mark as well.
On that note, let us take a look at the three uncapped players who can win the Purple Cap in IPL 2021:
#3 Ravi Bishnoi
One of the standout performers of the U-19 World Cup in South Africa in 2019, Ravi Bishnoi showed his pedigree in his first IPL season. The 20-year-old generated a lot of interest among franchises before Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) snapped him for ₹2 crore.
The aggressive leg-spinner fetched 12 wickets from 14 games at an economy rate of 7.37 and was the second-highest wicket-taker for his franchise. Playing under the tutelage of Punjab head coach Anil Kumble, the young spinner went from strength to strength.
Ravi Bishnoi has been in decent form in domestic competitions. He has picked wickets consistently - eight from five matches, including a three-wicket haul in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and has been economical. Punjab will expect him to continue the good run for their franchise.
The cricketer from Rajasthan will be one of the top contenders to win the Purple Cap among uncapped cricketers, given his happy knack of picking wickets at regular intervals. Punjab Kings will be highly dependent on the young leg-spinner alongside Murugan Ashwin and Jalaj Saxena.
#Prasidh Krishna
Joining Kolkata Knight Riders as a replacement for Kamlesh Nagarkoti in 2018, the tall and lanky fast bowler from Karnataka, Prasidh Krishna, soon made his presence felt on the big stage.
With a tight line and length and ability to swing the ball, Krishna provided major breakthroughs for Kolkata at the top, finishing his debut IPL season with 10 wickets from seven games.
Since then, he has been a regular feature for Kolkata and the management has immense trust in him that they have even benched senior fast bowlers to give Krishna game time.
Playing in the IPL has provided the youngster with much-needed confidence and since then, he has been a regular starter for his state side Karnataka.
The 25-year-old has been in decent touch in domestic competition which resumed earlier this year after a long halt due to the coronavirus pandemic. The ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy has been outstanding for Prasidh Krishna as Karnataka continue their blazing run to defend the title.
The tall and lanky fast bowler has scaped 11 wickets from six matches and is one of the highest wicket-takers in the domestic 50-over competition.
Krishna is expected to start for Kolkata Knight Riders and will be one of the contenders to win the Purple Cap among uncapped players considering Kolkata will play a lot of games at his home ground in Bangalore.
#Krishnappa Gowtham
Chennai Super Kings stunned one and all when they broke the bank to secure the service of Karnataka all-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham for a whopping amount of ₹9.25 crores.
While many opined that it was way more than what the cricketer deserves, Chennai was in search of a finger spinner with IPL experience after Harbhajan Singh's departure that skyrocketed his price.
Meanwhile, Gowtham's breakthrough year came in 2016 when a string of consistent performances earned him a place in the India A side. Ahead of IPL 2018, Rajasthan Royals roped him for ₹6.2 crores.
The all-rounder returned with 11 wickets from 14 matches but the next two IPL seasons had been woeful for the 32-year-old.
Playing under MS Dhoni this season, which starts from April 9, Krishnappa Gowtham is expected to turn the tables for Chennai Super Kings. He has looked in good rhythm in domestic competitions for Karnataka and could turn out to be a match-winner for the three-time IPL champions.
Although Gowtham accounted for only five wickets from six games in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he was economical, which will give him a good headstart for his new franchise.
All eyes will be on the Super Kings all-rounder who is our final contender to win the Purple Cap among uncapped cricketers in the IPL 2021.
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