Top 5 contenders for the IPL Young Player of the Season award

3. Sandeep Sharma

Sandeep continues to impress

The 22-year old Sandeep Sharma has been destined for greater things ever since his superb display down under during the Under-19 World Cup in Australia. He picked loads of wickets last time, and he has impressed one and all this season as well.

He has picked 13 wickets this year despite Kings XI’s shoddy display, and more importantly he ended up with an economy of just 7 which is excellent for a seamer who bowls in the powerplay and again during the death. Since his team couldn’t replicate last year’s success, he may not win the award, but he has done to be amongst the contenders.

2. Yuzvendra Chahal

Chahal came so close to winning the orange cap

Can Yuzvendra Chahal be the next big spinner in Indian Cricket? He perhaps might not have done enough in First-class Cricket to don the national jersey, but has shown enough glimpses of what he can offer if given a chance in the future.

He has finished the group stages as the most successful spinner with 19 wickets to his name with an average of less than 20 and if he can guide RCB to their maiden IPL title, he will clearly be the red-hot favourite to be crowned this year’s best young player.

1. Shreyas Iyer

Prime favourite to win the award

Right now without a doubt, Shreyas Iyer is the outright favourite to win the award after his stellar show with the bat in his maiden IPL season. For a youngster who is playing alongside these big names for the first time, and for someone who is not used to opening before, what he achieved with a side that still managed to finish second bottom was just remarkable. The 21-year old had a great domestic season too and with a lot of senior players about to be rested for the Bangladesh one-day series, some people have been calling for this young man’s inclusion in the side already.

He is also one of the highest six hitters in the tournament with 21 sixes as he ended up with 439 runs at an average of 33.76.