IPL report card of Virat Kohli's 2008 U-19 World Cup winning squad

T20 cricket has brought about a serious change in the way cricket is played and looked at. With the influx of T20 matches, attention to fitness, running between the wickets and exceptional fielding skills have attained paramount significance.

The Indian Premier League, considered to be the ideal platform for youngsters to showcase their talent while rubbing shoulders with the best in the business, has given many budding Indian cricketers the opportunity of being a part of world class cricket.

At the time of its inception in 2008, IPL was still a mystery as to how much of a success it will turn out to be, but a decade into its existence, all such doubts have been put to rest. At the very same time of the IPL's birth, Virat Kohli led a bunch of youngsters to the title of the ICC U-19 World Cup in Malaysia, thus bringing them into prominence.

The IPL further heaped adulation over them by handing these teenagers with lucrative contracts. Let us have a look at the journey of the members of that squad and where they are now in the league.

Note: Two members of that squad, Perry Goyal and Duvvarapu Siva Kumar never got to be a part of any IPL team. Ajitesh Argal who went to Kings XI Punjab and Napoleon Einstein who was bought by CSK never played an IPL match.

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Virat Kohli - 8/10

Virat Kohli has come a long way in international cricket

The skipper of the World Cup winning squad needs no introduction. Saying that the Delhi dasher has taken giant strides not just in the IPL but in world cricket will merely be an understatement. The stature that King Kohli has alleviated himself to as a result of his impeccable batting and inspirational leadership qualities, it will not be wrong to label him as a legend of the game already.

Picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore through the draft system for the inaugural edition, Kohli has ever since been with the franchise and in the process become the only one to do so in the history of the league.

Sitting second on the charts for the highest run-getter of the IPL with 4667 runs and winning the Orange Cap after scoring an incredible 973 runs in 2016 including four centuries, Kohli's salary increase from a mere $30,000 in 2008 to a record $25,00,000 in 2018 shall not come as a surprise.

The only thing with respect to the IPL that Kohli desperately must be craving for is the addition of the championship feather in his already glittering cap.

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Ravindra Jadeja - 8/10

Ravindra Jadeja was able to use the U-19 platform to enter the international arena

The vice-captain of the 2008 champion team, Ravindra Jadeja, who was picked up by Rajasthan Royals in 2008, used the IPL platform to good effect to make his way into the national side and has since had decent success at the international level.

Jadeja thoroughly expressed himself at Rajasthan under the inspirational leadership of Shane Warne, who referred to him as the 'Rockstar'. Jadeja's lower order batting and handy left-arm orthodox bowling helped the underdogs to clinch the maiden IPL title.

Serving a ban in 2010 due to contractual irregularities, he was bought by now-defunct Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2011 before moving to Chennai Super Kings in 2012 for a whopping $2 million. Turning out for Gujarat Lions in the time period that CSK served their two-year ban, Jadeja was retained by CSK for the 2018 season.

The Saurashtra born all-rounder has underwhelmed in the season so far but his tally of 1776 runs and 83 wickets makes him one of only five cricketers to have achieved the double of 1000 runs and 50 wickets in the IPL.

Manish Pandey - 8/10

Manish Pandey was the first Indian to score an IPL century

Karnataka born top order batsman Manish Pandey was picked by Mumbai Indians in 2008 but his breakaway moment came in 2009 when he turned out for RCB. In an important league match against Deccan Chargers, Pandey blasted his way to a century, becoming the first Indian to breach the three-figure mark in the history of the league.

Picked by Pune Warriors India in 2011, Pandey missed out on IPL action in 2012 and 2013 before being acquired by KKR in 2014. He repaid the faith of the owners by coming good in the night of the all-important final as his match-winning knock of 94 overhauled Punjab and won KKR their second IPL title.

An integral part of KKR's middle order till 2017, Manish Pandey was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for a hefty price of Rs.11 crores and has not been able to deliver the kind of success that shall do justice to such a price tag.

Having scored 2303 runs in over a hundred IPL games, Sunrisers will be expecting him to come good as soon as possible and add strength to their vulnerable middle order.

Saurabh Tiwary - 6/10

Tiwary was adjudged 'Emerging Player of the Year' in IPL 2010

Idolising state mate and former Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Jharkhand born Saurabh Tiwary played a useful hand in the 2008 World Cup win which led him to be picked by Mumbai Indians.

He shot into limelight in the 2010 season when he scored 419 runs, coming in to bat in the middle order and helped Mumbai reach the finals and won him the award for Emerging Player of IPL that year. Not just this, his 2010 stint helped him clinch a contract with RCB for a hard to believe $1.6 million.

After failing to deliver the goods for three years, he was bought by Delhi Daredevils for a mere RS.70 lakhs before turning out for Rising Pune Supergiant in the 2016 edition. Mumbai again bought him for the 2017 edition and he remains a member of their squad even this year. Well past his prime, it will come as a huge surprise if he gets to feature in the playing XI in any of the games this year.

Iqbal Abdulla - 6/10

Abdulla achieved IPL glory with KKR in 2012

Left-arm orthodox bowler Iqbal Abdulla was signed by KKR for IPL 2008 but featured for them in four matches across the first three seasons combined. In 2011, however, he got to play all their 15 matches and returned with 16 wickets at a miserly economy rate of 6.10.

Effectively used by captain Gautam Gambhir, Abdulla got the ideal opportunity to express himself and that led to him being adjudged as the Emerging Player of 2011. Part of KKR till 2013, winning the title with them in 2012, Abdulla was bought by RCB in 2015 and stayed with them till 2016.

Being in and out of the side, he got to play only 14 matches where he managed 10 wickets before going unsold in the 2018 auction.

Siddarth Kaul - 6/10

Kaul has delivered the goods for his latest franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad

After playing a vital role in India's U-19 triumph back in 2008, Punjab bowler Siddarth Kaul faded away primarily owing to major injuries. However, he came into the reckoning on the back of strong domestic performances for his state.

Having been a part of KKR for the inaugural IPL edition, Kaul did not manage to land an IPL contract for the next few seasons before turning out for DD in 2013-14. He was then bought by his present franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016 where, under the guidance of Ashish Nehra and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the hit-the-deck bowler developed into a finished product.

The results of his hard work are now visible as he not only earned a call-up to the national squad in 2017 but also is an integral member of SRH and has picked up nine wickets in the first seven games this season.

Shreevats Goswami - 4/10

Goswami has not been able to grab a lot of attention

The wicketkeeper of the champion team, Shreevats Goswami was touted as a future star when he was chosen as the U-19 Player of the Year for IPL's inaugural edition. However, he made just four appearances that year for RCB and a scored a half-century that won him the award for Man of the Match.

A lack of noteworthy performances across IPL and the domestic circuit meant that he has featured in just 23 IPL matches across a decade for RCB, KKR, Royals and presently SRH. His sub-100 strike rate has also played a huge role in him warming the bench as the backup wicketkeeper on most occasions.

Destiny had contrasting paths in store for the two U-19 RCB recruits for 2008; while one faded away into wilderness, the other went on to become the most celebrated cricketer of his generation.

Abhinav Mukund - 2/10

Mukund did not do justice to his potential

Tamil Nadu opening batsman Abhinav Mukund was expected to make it big in the cricketing world but it seems that the southpaw has failed to do justice to his potential.

After failing as a Test opener for India in the limited opportunities that came his way, Mukund also failed in the cash-rich league as he only got to play a couple of games for CSK and a one-off encounter for RCB managing just 19 runs.

With his best behind him, it seems highly unlikely that he will get another chance to feature in the IPL.

Pradeep Sangwan - 4/10

Pradeep Sangwan has picked 35 wickets in his IPL career

Delhi Daredevils rested really high hopes on pacer Pradeep Sangwan as they chose him over Virat Kohli when they were given the first chance of picking a player from the U-19 squad.

Unfortunately for them, the two cricketers took extremely different paths as far as success is considered.

Sangwan, who has featured in 39 matches for DD, KKR, MI and Gujarat, has picked 35 wickets in his IPL career as he makes his way back to Delhi this year. He has got an opportunity in one match so far the year but failed to impress.

Taruwar Kohli - 2/10

Taruwar Kohli (left) could not convert his U-19 success into senior cricket

When one comes across the words Kohli and U-19, the name that strikes the mind is that of the present Indian captain. But there was another Kohli who played a major role in India's U-19 win in 2008 and he was Taruwar Kohli of Punjab.

The right-handed batsman, batting at Virat's specialist position of Number 3, scored three consecutive half-centuries in the 2008 World Cup to guide India into the knockout stage. He was considered as a bright talent and was thus acquired by Rajasthan in 2008.

However, lack of impact meant that he could only play two matches for the Royals and as many for Punjab in 2009, ending up a paltry 11 runs to his name.

Tanmay Srivastava - 1/10

Tanmay was India's leading run scorer in the triumphant sojourn

Left-handed Uttar Pradesh batsman Tanmay Srivastav was India's highest scorer in the U-19 World Cup 2008 and was thus considered to go on to shine in senior cricket. However, it was not to be so.

Picked by Kings XI Punjab in 2008, he was a member of the team for eight matches but batted only thrice, managing only eight runs. He was later a part of Kochi Tuskers Kerala and Deccan Chargers but never played a game for them.

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