IPL 2021: 5 uncapped Indians to watch out for

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has always provided a platform for youngsters to express themselves, and this season won't be any different.

Over the years, the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja have made the step up from domestic cricket to the international stage effortlessly thanks to the IPL. This year, Ishan Kishan and Rahul Tewatia earned call-ups to the Indian team after stellar IPL campaigns.

Here are 5 uncapped Indian players to keep an eye on in IPL 2021.

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#5 - Shahrukh Khan - Punjab Kings

PBKS' Shahrukh Khan

After being signed for INR 5.5 crores by the Punjab Kings in the 2021 IPL auction, Shahrukh Khan seemed to take his game to a higher level in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

With his ability to finish innings, power-hitting and fearlessness, Shahrukh is a unique cricketer. The burly right-hander has the skills to pulverize bowlers at will - a quality that has caused PBKS coach Anil Kumble to compare him to the Mumbai Indians' Kieron Pollard.

Shahrukh has a lot of competition for his place in the side, with Deepak Hooda, Sarfaraz Khan and Mandeep Singh among those vying for a middle-order role in the PBKS playing XI. But given the amount the franchise shelled out on him and his recent form, we could see him make a mark in his debut IPL campaign.

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#4 Varun Chakravarthy - Kolkata Knight Riders

KKR's Varun Chakravarthy

Fitness issues got in the way of Varun Chakravarthy's international debut not once but twice, and he's still uncapped going into IPL 2021. The mystery spinner refused to disclose an injury he played through during last year's IPL to the BCCI, and once he recovered from that, he failed a regulation fitness test ahead of the T20I series against England.

In the process, Chakravarthy lost out on the opportunity to stake a claim for a place in India's T20 World Cup squad. IPL 2021 presents the final opportunity for the Tamil Nadu man to announce himself as the solution to India's spin woes in white-ball cricket.

Chakravarthy finished last year's campaign as the Kolkata Knight Riders' leading wicket-taker, and he'll want to repeat the feat this season.

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#3 Ruturaj Gaikwad - Chennai Super Kings

CSK's Ruturaj Gaikwad

After having a nightmarish start to his IPL career, Ruturaj Gaikwad showed great character and poise to notch up fifties in each of the Chennai Super Kings' final three league games.

Gaikwad established himself as one of the batting cornerstones around which CSK have to build for the future, but things aren't rosy in the lead-up to IPL 2020. The Maharashtra batsman has been in a rough patch in domestic cricket, with only one 50+ score (a hundred) in his last 10 innings. The arrival of Robin Uthappa, who is in pristine form, from the Rajasthan Royals has only complicated matters.

But Gaikwad has the faith of captain MS Dhoni, and should be given an extended rope at the top of the order for CSK in IPL 2021. Having impressed all with his composure and class in the final stages of the previous campaign, the 24-year-old is certainly one to watch out for.

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#2 Shreyas Gopal - Rajasthan Royals

RR's Shreyas Gopal

The Rajasthan Royals finished dead last on the IPL 2020 points table, and amidst the hullabaloo surrounding Rahul Tewatia and Ben Stokes, Shreyas Gopal's name was lost.

The leg-spinner, who surprisingly has never been close to an Indian call-up, had a disappointing campaign in which he leaked runs at an alarming rate and failed to pick up regular wickets like he usually does.

Gopal will come into this season with high expectations. He will once again be RR's lead spinner, and how new captain Sanju Samson decides to use his wicket-taking threat remains to be seen. Moreover, with India's wrist-spinners struggling in T20 cricket, it isn't a stretch to imagine Gopal getting a late call from the selectors for the T20 World Cup.

Gopal needs a strong season in IPL 2021, and he's another bowler to keep an eye on.

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#1 Abdul Samad - Sunrisers Hyderabad

SRH's Abdul Samad

The Sunrisers Hyderabad afforded opportunities to a few youngsters last season, with Abhishek Sharma and Priyam Garg being among those who featured regularly in the playing XI. But the most impressive of the lot was young Abdul Samad, who showed fearlessness and immense potential during the few minutes he spent at the crease.

Samad wasn't overawed by any situation, and even carted Jasprit Bumrah over the rope in authoritative fashion. The Jammu & Kashmir all-rounder rolled his arm over on occasion as well, although he couldn't really make an impact in that department.

Samad will probably be SRH's finisher in IPL 2021, and he'll have a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. But he's more than capable of taking up the role, and we could see him have a season to remember.